Маугли
Kaa’s Hunting
"I?How?Itakethemwhentheycomeinmyway,butIdonothunttheBandar-log,orfrogs—orgreenscumonawater-hole,forthatmatter."
"Up,Up!Up,Up!Hillo!Illo!Illo,lookup,BaloooftheSeeoneeWolfPack!"
Baloolookeduptoseewherethevoicecamefrom,andtherewasRanntheKite,sweepingdownwiththesunshiningontheupturnedflangesofhiswings. ItwasnearRann’sbedtime,buthehadrangedalloverthejunglelookingfortheBearandhadmissedhiminthethickfoliage.
"Whatisit?"saidBaloo.
"IhaveseenMowgliamongtheBandar-log. Hebademetellyou. Iwatched. TheBandar-loghavetakenhimbeyondtherivertothemonkeycity—totheColdLairs. Theymaystaythereforanight,ortennights,oranhour. Ihavetoldthebatstowatchthroughthedarktime. Thatismymessage. Goodhunting,allyoubelow!"
"Fullgorgeandadeepsleeptoyou,Rann,"criedBagheera. "Iwillremembertheeinmynextkill,andputasidetheheadfortheealone,Obestofkites!"
"Itisnothing.Itisnothing. TheboyheldtheMasterWord. Icouldhavedonenoless,"andRanncircledupagaintohisroost.
"Hehasnotforgottentousehistongue,"saidBaloowithachuckleofpride. "TothinkofonesoyoungrememberingtheMasterWordforthebirdstoowhilehewasbeingpulledacrosstrees!"
"Itwasmostfirmlydrivenintohim,"saidBagheera. "ButIamproudofhim,andnowwemustgototheColdLairs."