Мауглі
Kaa’s Hunting
Theboycouldclimbalmostaswellashecouldswim,andswimalmostaswellashecouldrun. SoBaloo,theTeacheroftheLaw,taughthimtheWoodandWaterLaws: howtotellarottenbranchfromasoundone;howtospeakpolitelytothewildbeeswhenhecameuponahiveofthemfiftyfeetaboveground;whattosaytoMangtheBatwhenhedisturbedhiminthebranchesatmidday;andhowtowarnthewater-snakesinthepoolsbeforehesplasheddownamongthem. NoneoftheJunglePeoplelikebeingdisturbed,andallareveryreadytoflyatanintruder. Then,too,MowgliwastaughttheStrangers’HuntingCall,whichmustberepeatedaloudtillitisanswered,wheneveroneoftheJungle-Peoplehuntsoutsidehisowngrounds. Itmeans,translated,"GivemeleavetohuntherebecauseIamhungry." Andtheansweris,"Huntthenforfood,butnotforpleasure."
AllthiswillshowyouhowmuchMowglihadtolearnbyheart,andhegrewverytiredofsayingthesamethingoverahundredtimes. But,asBaloosaidtoBagheera,onedaywhenMowglihadbeencuffedandrunoffinatemper, "Aman’scubisaman’scub,andhemustlearnalltheLawoftheJungle."
"Butthinkhowsmallheis,"saidtheBlackPanther,whowouldhavespoiledMowgliifhehadhadhisownway. "Howcanhislittleheadcarryallthylongtalk?"
"Isthereanythinginthejungletoolittletobekilled? No.ThatiswhyIteachhimthesethings,andthatiswhyIhithim,verysoftly,whenheforgets."
"Softly!Whatdostthouknowofsoftness,oldIron-feet?"Bagheeragrunted. "Hisfaceisallbruisedtodaybythy—softness.Ugh."
