Мауглі
Toomai of the Elephants
HeknewthattherewereelephantsallroundKalaNag,andthattherewasnochanceofbackinghimoutoftheassembly;sohesethisteethandshivered.InaKeddahatleasttherewastorchlightandshouting,butherehewasallaloneinthedark,andonceatrunkcameupandtouchedhimontheknee.
Thenanelephanttrumpeted,andtheyalltookitupforfiveortenterribleseconds.Thedewfromthetreesabovespattereddownlikerainontheunseenbacks,andadullboomingnoisebegan,notveryloudatfirst,andLittleToomaicouldnottellwhatitwas.Butitgrewandgrew,andKalaNaglifteduponeforefootandthentheother,andbroughtthemdownontheground—one-two,one-two,assteadilyastrip-hammers.Theelephantswerestampingalltogethernow,anditsoundedlikeawardrumbeatenatthemouthofacave.Thedewfellfromthetreestilltherewasnomorelefttofall,andtheboomingwenton,andthegroundrockedandshivered,andLittleToomaiputhishandsuptohisearstoshutoutthesound.Butitwasallonegiganticjarthatranthroughhim—thisstampofhundredsofheavyfeetontherawearth.OnceortwicehecouldfeelKalaNagandalltheotherssurgeforwardafewstrides,andthethumpingwouldchangetothecrushingsoundofjuicygreenthingsbeingbruised,butinaminuteortwotheboomoffeetonhardearthbeganagain.Atreewascreakingandgroaningsomewherenearhim.Heputouthisarmandfeltthebark,butKalaNagmovedforward,stilltramping,andhecouldnottellwherehewasintheclearing.
