The Jungle Book, part 3 · page 21 2101I will die without fighting.102That will at least save the Pack three lives.103More I cannot do; but if ye will, I can save ye the shame that comes of killing a brother against whom there is no fault--a brother spoken for and bought into the Pack according to the Law of the Jungle.”104“He is a man--a man--a man!” snarled the Pack.105And most of the wolves began to gather round Shere Khan, whose tail was beginning to switch.106“Now the business is in thy hands,” said Bagheera to Mowgli.107“We can do no more except fight.”108Mowgli stood upright--the fire pot in his hands.109Then he stretched out his arms, and yawned in the face of the Council; but he was furious with rage and sorrow, for, wolflike, the wolves had never told him how they hated him.110“Listen you!” he cried.111“There is no need for this dog’s jabber.112Ye have told me so often tonight that I am a man (and indeed I would have been a wolf with you to my life’s end) that I feel your words are true.113So I do not call ye my brothers any more, but sag [dogs], as a man should.114What ye will do, and what ye will not do, is not yours to say.115That matter is with me; and that we may see the matter more plainly, I, the man, have brought here a little of the Red Flower which ye, dogs, fear.”116He flung the fire pot on the ground, and some of the red coals lit a tuft of dried moss that flared up, as all the Council drew back in terror before the leaping flames.117Mowgli thrust his dead branch into the fire till the twigs lit and crackled, and whirled it above his head among the cowering wolves.118“Thou art the master,” said Bagheera in an undertone.119“Save Akela from the death.120He was ever thy friend.”121Akela, the grim old wolf who had never asked for mercy in his life, gave one piteous look at Mowgli as the boy stood all naked, his long black hair tossing over his shoulders in the light of the blazing branch that made the shadows jump and quiver.122“Good!” said Mowgli, staring round slowly.123“I see that ye are dogs.124I go from you to my own people--if they be my own people.125The jungle is shut to me, and I must forget your talk and your companionship.126But I will be more merciful than ye are.127Because I was all but your brother in blood, I promise that when I am a man among men I will not betray ye to men as ye have betrayed me.”128He kicked the fire with his foot, and the sparks flew up.129“There shall be no war between any of us in the Pack.130But here is a debt to pay before I go.”131He strode forward to where Shere Khan sat blinking stupidly at the flames, and caught him by the tuft on his chin.132Bagheera followed in case of accidents.133“Up, dog!”134Mowgli cried.135“Up, when a man speaks, or I will set that coat ablaze!”136Shere Khan’s ears lay flat back on his head, and he shut his eyes, for the blazing branch was very near.137“This cattle-killer said he would kill me in the Council because he had not killed me when I was a cub.138Thus and thus, then, do we beat dogs when we are men.139Stir a whisker, Lungri, and I ram the Red Flower down thy gullet!”140He beat Shere Khan over the head with the branch, and the tiger whimpered and whined in an agony of fear.141“Pah!142Singed jungle cat--go now!143But remember when next I come to the Council Rock, as a man should come, it will be with Shere Khan’s hide on my head.144For the rest, Akela goes free to live as he pleases.145Ye will not kill him, because that is not my will.146Nor do I think that ye will sit here any longer, lolling out your tongues as though ye were somebodies, instead of dogs whom I drive out--thus!147Go!”148The fire was burning furiously at the end of the branch, and Mowgli struck right and left round the circle, and the wolves ran howling with the sparks burning their fur.149At last there were only Akela, Bagheera, and perhaps ten wolves that had taken Mowgli’s part.150Then something began to hurt Mowgli inside him, as he had never been hurt in his life before, and he caught his breath and sobbed, and the tears ran down his face.checked by a teacher151“What is it?152What is it?” he said.153“I do not wish to leave the jungle, and I do not know what this is.154Am I dying, Bagheera?”155“No, Little Brother.156That is only tears such as men use,” said Bagheera.157“Now I know thou art a man, and a man’s cub no longer.158The jungle is shut indeed to thee henceforward.159Let them fall, Mowgli.160They are only tears.”161So Mowgli sat and cried as though his heart would break; and he had never cried in all his life before.162“Now,” he said, “I will go to men.163But first I must say farewell to my mother.”164And he went to the cave where she lived with Father Wolf, and he cried on her coat, while the four cubs howled miserably.165“Ye will not forget me?” said Mowgli.166“Never while we can follow a trail,” said the cubs.167“Come to the foot of the hill when thou art a man, and we will talk to thee; and we will come into the croplands to play with thee by night.”168“Come soon!” said Father Wolf.169“Oh, wise little frog, come again soon; for we be old, thy mother and I.”170“Come soon,” said Mother Wolf, “little naked son of mine.171For, listen, child of man, I loved thee more than ever I loved my cubs.”172“I will surely come,” said Mowgli.173“And when I come it will be to lay out Shere Khan’s hide upon the Council Rock.174Do not forget me!175Tell them in the jungle never to forget me!”176The dawn was beginning to break when Mowgli went down the hillside alone, to meet those mysterious things that are called men.177Hunting-Song of the Seeonee Pack178As the dawn was breaking the Sambhur belled Once, twice and again!179And a doe leaped up, and a doe leaped up From the pond in the wood where the wild deer sup.180This I, scouting alone, beheld, Once, twice and again!181As the dawn was breaking the Sambhur belled Once, twice and again!182And a wolf stole back, and a wolf stole back To carry the word to the waiting pack, And we sought and we found and we bayed on his track Once, twice and again!183As the dawn was breaking the Wolf Pack yelled Once, twice and again!184Feet in the jungle that leave no mark!checked by a teacher185Eyes that can see in the dark--the dark!186Tongue--give tongue to it!187Hark!188O hark!189Once, twice and again!190Kaa’s Hunting191His spots are the joy of the Leopard: his horns are the Buffalo’s pride.192Be clean, for the strength of the hunter is known by the gloss of his hide.193If ye find that the Bullock can toss you, or the heavy-browed Sambhur can gore; Ye need not stop work to inform us: we knew it ten seasons before.1 2← previousThe Jungle Book, part 2next →The Jungle Book, part 4↑ back to The Jungle BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg236/3/page/2/