Мауглі
Tiger! Tiger!
Theytoldwonderfultalesofgodsandmenandghosts;andBuldeotoldevenmorewonderfulonesofthewaysofbeastsinthejungle,tilltheeyesofthechildrensittingoutsidethecirclebulgedoutoftheirheads.Mostofthetaleswereaboutanimals,forthejunglewasalwaysattheirdoor.Thedeerandthewildpiggrubbeduptheircrops,andnowandagainthetigercarriedoffamanattwilight,withinsightofthevillagegates.
Mowgli,whonaturallyknewsomethingaboutwhattheyweretalkingof,hadtocoverhisfacenottoshowthathewaslaughing,whileBuldeo,theTowermusketacrosshisknees,climbedonfromonewonderfulstorytoanother,andMowgli’sshouldersshook.
BuldeowasexplaininghowthetigerthathadcarriedawayMessua’ssonwasaghost-tiger,andhisbodywasinhabitedbytheghostofawicked,oldmoney-lender,whohaddiedsomeyearsago."AndIknowthatthisistrue,"hesaid,"becausePurunDassalwayslimpedfromtheblowthathegotinariotwhenhisaccountbookswereburned,andthetigerthatIspeakofhelimps,too,forthetracksofhispadsareunequal."
"True,true,thatmustbethetruth,"saidthegray-beards,noddingtogether.
"Areallthesetalessuchcobwebsandmoontalk?"saidMowgli."Thattigerlimpsbecausehewasbornlame,aseveryoneknows.Totalkofthesoulofamoney-lenderinabeastthatneverhadthecourageofajackalischild’stalk."
Buldeowasspeechlesswithsurpriseforamoment,andthehead-manstared.
