Мауглі

           Kaalookedcarefullytillhefoundadiscoloredcrackinthemarbletraceryshowingaweakspot,madetwoorthreelighttapswithhisheadtogetthedistance,andthenliftingupsixfeetofhisbodyclearoftheground,senthomehalfadozenfull-powersmashingblows,nose-first. Thescreen-workbrokeandfellawayinacloudofdustandrubbish,andMowglileapedthroughtheopeningandflunghimselfbetweenBalooandBagheera—anarmaroundeachbigneck. 

           "Artthouhurt?"saidBaloo,hugginghimsoftly. 

           "Iamsore,hungry,andnotalittlebruised. But,oh,theyhavehandledyegrievously,myBrothers! Yebleed." 

           "Othersalso,"saidBagheera,lickinghislipsandlookingatthemonkey-deadontheterraceandroundthetank. 

           "Itisnothing,itisnothing,ifthouartsafe,oh,myprideofalllittlefrogs!"whimperedBaloo. 

           "Ofthatweshalljudgelater,"saidBagheera,inadryvoicethatMowglididnotatalllike. "ButhereisKaatowhomweowethebattleandthouowestthylife. Thankhimaccordingtoourcustoms,Mowgli." 

           MowgliturnedandsawthegreatPython’sheadswayingafootabovehisown. 

           "Sothisisthemanling,"saidKaa. "Verysoftishisskin,andheisnotunliketheBandar-log. Haveacare,manling,thatIdonotmistaketheeforamonkeysometwilightwhenIhavenewlychangedmycoat." 

           "Webeoneblood,thouandI,"Mowglianswered. "Itakemylifefromtheetonight. Mykillshallbethykillifeverthouarthungry,OKaa." 

           "Allthanks,LittleBrother,"saidKaa,thoughhiseyestwinkled.