Маугли

           Wecallithydrophobia,buttheycallitdewanee—themadness—andrun. 

           "Enter,then,andlook,"saidFatherWolfstiffly,"butthereisnofoodhere." 

           "Forawolf,no,"saidTabaqui,"butforsomeanapersonasmyselfadryboneisagoodfeast. Whoarewe,theGidur-log(thejackalpeople),topickandchoose?" Hescuttledtothebackofthecave,wherehefoundtheboneofabuckwithsomemeatonit,andsatcrackingtheendmerrily. 

           "Allthanksforthisgoodmeal,"hesaid,lickinghislips. "Howbeautifularethenoblechildren! Howlargearetheireyes! Andsoyoungtoo! Indeed,indeed,Imighthaverememberedthatthechildrenofkingsaremenfromthebeginning." 

           Now,Tabaquiknewaswellasanyoneelsethatthereisnothingsounluckyastocomplimentchildrentotheirfaces.ItpleasedhimtoseeMotherandFatherWolflookuncomfortable. 

           Tabaquisatstill,rejoicinginthemischiefthathehadmade,andthenhesaidspitefully: 

           "ShereKhan,theBigOne,hasshiftedhishuntinggrounds. Hewillhuntamongthesehillsforthenextmoon,sohehastoldme." 

           ShereKhanwasthetigerwholivedneartheWaingungaRiver,twentymilesaway. 

           "Hehasnoright!"FatherWolfbeganangrily —"BytheLawoftheJunglehehasnorighttochangehisquarterswithoutduewarning. Hewillfrighteneveryheadofgamewithintenmiles,andI—Ihavetokillfortwo,thesedays." 

           "HismotherdidnotcallhimLungri(theLameOne)fornothing,"saidMotherWolfquietly.