Мауглі

           Hemusthavebeentheonethatfloppedintomytent,forhecalledtothemule,"WhatshallIdo?WhereshallIgo?Ihavefoughtwithawhitethingthatwaved,andittookastickandhitmeontheneck."(Thatwasmybrokententpole,andIwasverygladtoknowit.)"Shallwerunon?"

           "Oh,itwasyou,"saidthemule,"youandyourfriends,thathavebeendisturbingthecamp?Allright.You’llbebeatenforthisinthemorning.ButImayaswellgiveyousomethingonaccountnow."

           Iheardtheharnessjingleasthemulebackedandcaughtthecameltwokicksintheribsthatranglikeadrum."Anothertime,"hesaid,"you’llknowbetterthantorunthroughamulebatteryatnight,shouting‘Thievesandfire!’Sitdown,andkeepyoursillyneckquiet."

           Thecameldoubledupcamel-fashion,likeatwo-footrule,andsatdownwhimpering.Therewasaregularbeatofhoofsinthedarkness,andabigtroop-horsecanteredupassteadilyasthoughhewereonparade,jumpedaguntail,andlandedclosetothemule.

           "It’sdisgraceful,"hesaid,blowingouthisnostrils."Thosecamelshaveracketedthroughourlinesagain—thethirdtimethisweek.How’sahorsetokeephisconditionifheisn’tallowedtosleep.Who’shere?"

           "I’mthebreech-piecemuleofnumbertwogunoftheFirstScrewBattery,"saidthemule,"andtheother’soneofyourfriends.He’swakedmeuptoo.Whoareyou?"

           "NumberFifteen,Etroop,NinthLancers—DickCunliffe’shorse.Standoveralittle,there."