Мауглі

           "Andwhatmaysoboldahunterkill? IaskthatImayfollowwhennexthegoesabroad." 

           "Ikillnothing—Iamtoolittle—butIdrivegoatstowardsuchascanusethem. WhenthouartemptycometomeandseeifIspeakthetruth. Ihavesomeskillinthese(heheldouthishands),andifeverthouartinatrap,ImaypaythedebtwhichIowetothee,toBagheera,andtoBaloo,here. Goodhuntingtoyeall,mymasters." 

           "Wellsaid,"growledBaloo,forMowglihadreturnedthanksveryprettily. ThePythondroppedhisheadlightlyforaminuteonMowgli’sshoulder. "Abraveheartandacourteoustongue,"saidhe. "Theyshallcarrytheefarthroughthejungle,manling. Butnowgohencequicklywiththyfriends. Goandsleep,forthemoonsets,andwhatfollowsitisnotwellthatthoushouldstsee." 

           Themoonwassinkingbehindthehillsandthelinesoftremblingmonkeyshuddledtogetheronthewallsandbattlementslookedlikeraggedshakyfringesofthings. BaloowentdowntothetankforadrinkandBagheerabegantoputhisfurinorder,asKaaglidedoutintothecenteroftheterraceandbroughthisjawstogetherwitharingingsnapthatdrewallthemonkeys’eyesuponhim. 

           "Themoonsets,"hesaid. "Isthereyetlightenoughtosee?" 

           Fromthewallscameamoanlikethewindinthetree-tops —"Wesee,OKaa." 

           "Good. Beginsnowthedance—theDanceoftheHungerofKaa. Sitstillandwatch."