Маугли
Mowgli’s Brothers
TheLoneWolfmusthavesprungandmissedhishold,forMowgliheardthesnapofhisteethandthenayelpastheSambhurknockedhimoverwithhisforefoot.
Hedidnotwaitforanythingmore,butdashedon; andtheyellsgrewfainterbehindhimasheranintothecroplandswherethevillagerslived.
"Bagheeraspoketruth,"hepanted,ashenestleddowninsomecattlefodderbythewindowofahut. "To-morrowisonedaybothforAkelaandforme."
Thenhepressedhisfaceclosetothewindowandwatchedthefireonthehearth. Hesawthehusbandman’swifegetupandfeeditinthenightwithblacklumps. Andwhenthemorningcameandthemistswereallwhiteandcold,hesawtheman’schildpickupawickerpotplasteredinsidewithearth,fillitwithlumpsofred-hotcharcoal,putitunderhisblanket,andgoouttotendthecowsinthebyre.
"Isthatall?"saidMowgli. "Ifacubcandoit,thereisnothingtofear." Sohestroderoundthecornerandmettheboy,tookthepotfromhishand,anddisappearedintothemistwhiletheboyhowledwithfear.
"Theyareverylikeme,"saidMowgli,blowingintothepotashehadseenthewomando. "ThisthingwilldieifIdonotgiveitthingstoeat"; andhedroppedtwigsanddriedbarkontheredstuff. HalfwayupthehillhemetBagheerawiththemorningdewshininglikemoonstonesonhiscoat.
"Akelahasmissed,"saidthePanther. "Theywouldhavekilledhimlastnight,buttheyneededtheealso. Theywerelookingfortheeonthehill."