Мауглі

           Stirawhisker,Lungri,andIramtheRedFlowerdownthygullet!" HebeatShereKhanovertheheadwiththebranch,andthetigerwhimperedandwhinedinanagonyoffear. 

           "Pah!Singedjunglecat—gonow! ButrememberwhennextIcometotheCouncilRock,asamanshouldcome,itwillbewithShereKhan’shideonmyhead. Fortherest,Akelagoesfreetoliveashepleases. Yewillnotkillhim,becausethatisnotmywill. NordoIthinkthatyewillsithereanylonger,lollingoutyourtonguesasthoughyeweresomebodies,insteadofdogswhomIdriveout—thus!Go!" Thefirewasburningfuriouslyattheendofthebranch,andMowglistruckrightandleftroundthecircle,andthewolvesranhowlingwiththesparksburningtheirfur. AtlasttherewereonlyAkela,Bagheera,andperhapstenwolvesthathadtakenMowgli’spart. ThensomethingbegantohurtMowgliinsidehim,ashehadneverbeenhurtinhislifebefore,andhecaughthisbreathandsobbed,andthetearsrandownhisface. 

           "Whatisit?Whatisit?"hesaid. "Idonotwishtoleavethejungle,andIdonotknowwhatthisis. AmIdying,Bagheera?" 

           "No,LittleBrother. Thatisonlytearssuchasmenuse,"saidBagheera. "NowIknowthouartaman,andaman’scubnolonger. Thejungleisshutindeedtotheehenceforward. Letthemfall,Mowgli. Theyareonlytears." SoMowglisatandcriedasthoughhisheartwouldbreak;andhehadnevercriedinallhislifebefore. 

           "Now,"hesaid,"Iwillgotomen. ButfirstImustsayfarewelltomymother."