Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
Thoucanstnotevenskinhimproperly,littlebeggarbrat,andforsoothI,Buldeo,mustbetoldnottosingehiswhiskers.Mowgli,Iwillnotgivetheeoneannaofthereward,butonlyaverybigbeating.Leavethecarcass!"
"BytheBullthatboughtme,"saidMowgli,whowastryingtogetattheshoulder,"mustIstaybabblingtoanoldapeallnoon?Here,Akela,thismanplaguesme."
Buldeo,whowasstillstoopingoverShereKhan’shead,foundhimselfsprawlingonthegrass,withagraywolfstandingoverhim,whileMowgliwentonskinningasthoughhewerealoneinallIndia.
"Ye-es,"hesaid,betweenhisteeth."Thouartaltogetherright,Buldeo.Thouwiltnevergivemeoneannaofthereward.Thereisanoldwarbetweenthislametigerandmyself—averyoldwar,and—Ihavewon."
TodoBuldeojustice,ifhehadbeentenyearsyoungerhewouldhavetakenhischancewithAkelahadhemetthewolfinthewoods,butawolfwhoobeyedtheordersofthisboywhohadprivatewarswithman-eatingtigerswasnotacommonanimal.Itwassorcery,magicoftheworstkind,thoughtBuldeo,andhewonderedwhethertheamuletroundhisneckwouldprotecthim.Helayasstillasstill,expectingeveryminutetoseeMowgliturnintoatigertoo.
"Maharaj!GreatKing,"hesaidatlastinahuskywhisper.
"Yes,"saidMowgli,withoutturninghishead,chucklingalittle.
"Iamanoldman.Ididnotknowthatthouwastanythingmorethanaherdsboy.MayIriseupandgoaway,orwillthyservanttearmetopieces?"
