Маугли

           "Butitistrue. Heissuchaman-cubasneverwas,"saidBaloo. "Thebestandwisestandboldestofman-cubs—myownpupil,whoshallmakethenameofBaloofamousthroughallthejungles;andbesides,I—we—lovehim,Kaa." 

           "Ts!Ts!"saidKaa,weavinghisheadtoandfro. "Ialsohaveknownwhatloveis. TherearetalesIcouldtellthat—" 

           "Thatneedaclearnightwhenweareallwellfedtopraiseproperly,"saidBagheeraquickly. "Ourman-cubisinthehandsoftheBandar-lognow,andweknowthatofalltheJungle-PeopletheyfearKaaalone." 

           "Theyfearmealone. Theyhavegoodreason,"saidKaa. "Chattering,foolish,vain—vain,foolish,andchattering,arethemonkeys. Butaman-thingintheirhandsisinnogoodluck. Theygrowtiredofthenutstheypick,andthrowthemdown. Theycarryabranchhalfaday,meaningtodogreatthingswithit,andthentheysnapitintwo. Thatman-thingisnottobeenvied. Theycalledmealso—‘yellowfish’wasitnot?" 

           "Worm—worm—earth-worm,"saidBagheera,"aswellasotherthingswhichIcannotnowsayforshame." 

           "Wemustremindthemtospeakwelloftheirmaster. Aaa-ssp! Wemusthelptheirwanderingmemories. Now,whitherwenttheywiththecub?" 

           "Thejunglealoneknows. Towardthesunset,Ibelieve,"saidBaloo. "Wehadthoughtthatthouwouldstknow,Kaa."