Мауглі

           Hi!TwoTails,areyoutiedup?"

           "Yes,"saidTwoTails,withalaughalluphistrunk."I’mpicketedforthenight.I’veheardwhatyoufellowshavebeensaying.Butdon’tbeafraid.I’mnotcomingover."

           Thebullocksandthecamelsaid,halfaloud,"AfraidofTwoTails—whatnonsense!"Andthebullockswenton,"Wearesorrythatyouheard,butitistrue.TwoTails,whyareyouafraidofthegunswhentheyfire?"

           "Well,"saidTwoTails,rubbingonehindlegagainsttheother,exactlylikealittleboysayingapoem,"Idon’tquiteknowwhetheryou’dunderstand."

           "Wedon’t,butwehavetopulltheguns,"saidthebullocks.

           "Iknowit,andIknowyouareagooddealbraverthanyouthinkyouare.Butit’sdifferentwithme.MybatterycaptaincalledmeaPachydermatousAnachronismtheotherday."

           "That’sanotherwayoffighting,Isuppose?"saidBilly,whowasrecoveringhisspirits.

           "Youdon’tknowwhatthatmeans,ofcourse,butIdo.Itmeansbetwixtandbetween,andthatisjustwhereIam.Icanseeinsidemyheadwhatwillhappenwhenashellbursts,andyoubullockscan’t."

           "Ican,"saidthetroop-horse."Atleastalittlebit.Itrynottothinkaboutit."

           "Icanseemorethanyou,andIdothinkaboutit.Iknowthere’sagreatdealofmetotakecareof,andIknowthatnobodyknowshowtocuremewhenI’msick.Alltheycandoistostopmydriver’spaytillIgetwell,andIcan’ttrustmydriver."

           "Ah!"saidthetroophorse."Thatexplainsit.IcantrustDick."