Мауглі

           Heturnedtwiceorthriceinabigcircle,weavinghisheadfromrighttoleft. Thenhebeganmakingloopsandfiguresofeightwithhisbody,andsoft,oozytrianglesthatmeltedintosquaresandfive-sidedfigures,andcoiledmounds,neverresting,neverhurrying,andneverstoppinghislowhummingsong. Itgrewdarkeranddarker,tillatlastthedragging,shiftingcoilsdisappeared,buttheycouldheartherustleofthescales. 

           BalooandBagheerastoodstillasstone,growlingintheirthroats,theirneckhairbristling,andMowgliwatchedandwondered. 

           "Bandar-log,"saidthevoiceofKaaatlast,"canyestirfootorhandwithoutmyorder?Speak!" 

           "Withoutthyorderwecannotstirfootorhand,OKaa!" 

           "Good!Comeallonepacenearertome." 

           Thelinesofthemonkeysswayedforwardhelplessly,andBalooandBagheeratookonestiffstepforwardwiththem. 

           "Nearer!"hissedKaa, andtheyallmovedagain. 

           MowglilaidhishandsonBalooandBagheeratogetthemaway,andthetwogreatbeastsstartedasthoughtheyhadbeenwakedfromadream. 

           "Keepthyhandonmyshoulder,"Bagheerawhispered. "Keepitthere,orImustgoback—mustgobacktoKaa.Aah!" 

           "ItisonlyoldKaamakingcirclesonthedust,"saidMowgli. "Letusgo." Andthethreeslippedoffthroughagapinthewallstothejungle. 

           "Whoof!"saidBaloo,whenhestoodunderthestilltreesagain. "NevermorewillImakeanallyofKaa,"andheshookhimselfallover. 

           "Heknowsmorethanwe,"saidBagheera,trembling. "Inalittletime,hadIstayed,Ishouldhavewalkeddownhisthroat."