Маугли

           Theboycouldclimbalmostaswellashecouldswim,andswimalmostaswellashecouldrun. SoBaloo,theTeacheroftheLaw,taughthimtheWoodandWaterLaws: howtotellarottenbranchfromasoundone;howtospeakpolitelytothewildbeeswhenhecameuponahiveofthemfiftyfeetaboveground;whattosaytoMangtheBatwhenhedisturbedhiminthebranchesatmidday;andhowtowarnthewater-snakesinthepoolsbeforehesplasheddownamongthem. NoneoftheJunglePeoplelikebeingdisturbed,andallareveryreadytoflyatanintruder. Then,too,MowgliwastaughttheStrangers’HuntingCall,whichmustberepeatedaloudtillitisanswered,wheneveroneoftheJungle-Peoplehuntsoutsidehisowngrounds. Itmeans,translated,"GivemeleavetohuntherebecauseIamhungry." Andtheansweris,"Huntthenforfood,butnotforpleasure." 

           AllthiswillshowyouhowmuchMowglihadtolearnbyheart,andhegrewverytiredofsayingthesamethingoverahundredtimes. But,asBaloosaidtoBagheera,onedaywhenMowglihadbeencuffedandrunoffinatemper, "Aman’scubisaman’scub,andhemustlearnalltheLawoftheJungle." 

           "Butthinkhowsmallheis,"saidtheBlackPanther,whowouldhavespoiledMowgliifhehadhadhisownway. "Howcanhislittleheadcarryallthylongtalk?" 

           "Isthereanythinginthejungletoolittletobekilled? No.ThatiswhyIteachhimthesethings,andthatiswhyIhithim,verysoftly,whenheforgets." 

           "Softly!Whatdostthouknowofsoftness,oldIron-feet?"Bagheeragrunted. "Hisfaceisallbruisedtodaybythy—softness.Ugh."