Mowgli’s Brothers
NowRanntheKitebringshomethenight
ThatMangtheBatsetsfree—
Theherdsareshutinbyreandhut
Forloosedtilldawnarewe.
Thisisthehourofprideandpower,
Talonandtushandclaw.
Oh,hearthecall!—Goodhuntingall
ThatkeeptheJungleLaw!
Night-SongintheJungle
Itwasseveno’clockofaverywarmeveningintheSeeoneehillswhenFatherWolfwokeupfromhisday’srest,scratchedhimself,yawned,andspreadouthispawsoneaftertheothertogetridofthesleepyfeelingintheirtips. MotherWolflaywithherbiggraynosedroppedacrossherfourtumbling,squealingcubs,andthemoonshoneintothemouthofthecavewheretheyalllived. "Augrh!"saidFatherWolf."Itistimetohuntagain." Hewasgoingtospringdownhillwhenalittleshadowwithabushytailcrossedthethresholdandwhined: "Goodluckgowithyou,OChiefoftheWolves. Andgoodluckandstrongwhiteteethgowithnoblechildrenthattheymayneverforgetthehungryinthisworld."
Itwasthejackal—Tabaqui,theDish-licker—andthewolvesofIndiadespiseTabaquibecauseherunsaboutmakingmischief,andtellingtales,andeatingragsandpiecesofleatherfromthevillagerubbish-heaps. Buttheyareafraidofhimtoo,becauseTabaqui,morethananyoneelseinthejungle,isapttogomad,andthenheforgetsthathewaseverafraidofanyone,andrunsthroughtheforestbitingeverythinginhisway. EventhetigerrunsandhideswhenlittleTabaquigoesmad,formadnessisthemostdisgracefulthingthatcanovertakeawildcreature.