Маугли
Her Majesty’s Servants
Iwhistled,andVixenranuptome,muddyallover,andlickedmynose,andtoldmealongtaleabouthuntingformeallthroughthecamp.IneverletherknowthatIunderstoodbeasttalk,orshewouldhavetakenallsortsofliberties.SoIbuttonedherintothebreastofmyovercoat,andTwoTailsshuffledandstampedandgrowledtohimself.
"Extraordinary!Mostextraordinary!"hesaid."Itrunsinourfamily.Now,wherehasthatnastylittlebeastgoneto?"
Iheardhimfeelingaboutwithhistrunk.
"Weallseemtobeaffectedinvariousways,"hewenton,blowinghisnose."Now,yougentlemenwerealarmed,Ibelieve,whenItrumpeted."
"Notalarmed,exactly,"saidthetroop-horse,"butitmademefeelasthoughIhadhornetswheremysaddleoughttobe.Don’tbeginagain."
"I’mfrightenedofalittledog,andthecamelhereisfrightenedbybaddreamsinthenight."
"Itisveryluckyforusthatwehaven’tallgottofightinthesameway,"saidthetroop-horse.
"WhatIwanttoknow,"saidtheyoungmule,whohadbeenquietforalongtime—"whatIwanttoknowis,whywehavetofightatall."
"Becausewe’retoldto,"saidthetroop-horse,withasnortofcontempt.
"Orders,"saidBillythemule,andhisteethsnapped.
"Hukmhai!"(Itisanorder!),saidthecamelwithagurgle,andTwoTailsandthebullocksrepeated,"Hukmhai!"
"Yes,butwhogivestheorders?"saidtherecruit-mule.
