Мауглі
Tiger! Tiger!
"Again?LasttimeitwasbecauseIwasaman.ThistimeitisbecauseIamawolf.Letusgo,Akela."
Awoman—itwasMessua—ranacrosstotheherd,andcried:"Oh,myson,myson!Theysaythouartasorcererwhocanturnhimselfintoabeastatwill.Idonotbelieve,butgoawayortheywillkillthee.Buldeosaysthouartawizard,butIknowthouhastavengedNathoo’sdeath."
"Comeback,Messua!"shoutedthecrowd."Comeback,orwewillstonethee."
Mowglilaughedalittleshortuglylaugh,forastonehadhithiminthemouth."Runback,Messua.Thisisoneofthefoolishtalestheytellunderthebigtreeatdusk.Ihaveatleastpaidforthyson’slife.Farewell;andrunquickly,forIshallsendtheherdinmoreswiftlythantheirbrickbats.Iamnowizard,Messua.Farewell!"
"Now,oncemore,Akela,"hecried."Bringtheherdin."
Thebuffaloeswereanxiousenoughtogettothevillage.TheyhardlyneededAkela’syell,butchargedthroughthegatelikeawhirlwind,scatteringthecrowdrightandleft.
"Keepcount!"shoutedMowgliscornfully."ItmaybethatIhavestolenoneofthem.Keepcount,forIwilldoyourherdingnomore.Fareyouwell,childrenofmen,andthankMessuathatIdonotcomeinwithmywolvesandhuntyouupanddownyourstreet."
HeturnedonhisheelandwalkedawaywiththeLoneWolf,andashelookedupatthestarshefelthappy."Nomoresleepingintrapsforme,Akela.LetusgetShereKhan’sskinandgoaway.No,wewillnothurtthevillage,forMessuawaskindtome."
