Page 59 - THE JUNGLE BOOK
P. 59

The Jungle Book


                                     They all knew where that place was, but few of the
                                  Jungle People ever went there, because what they called
                                  the Cold Lairs was an old deserted city, lost and buried in
                                  the jungle, and beasts seldom use a place that men have

                                  once used. The wild boar will, but the hunting tribes do
                                  not. Besides, the monkeys lived there as much as they
                                  could be said to live anywhere, and no self-respecting
                                  animal would come within eyeshot of it except in times of
                                  drought, when the half-ruined tanks and reservoirs held a
                                  little water.
                                     ‘It is half a night’s journey—at full speed,’ said
                                  Bagheera, and Baloo looked very serious. ‘I will go as fast
                                  as I can,’ he said anxiously.
                                     ‘We dare not wait for thee. Follow, Baloo. We must
                                  go on the quick-foot—Kaa and I.’
                                     ‘Feet or no feet, I can keep abreast of all thy four,’ said
                                  Kaa shortly. Baloo made one effort to hurry, but had to sit
                                  down panting, and so they left him to come on later,
                                  while Bagheera hurried forward, at the quick panther-
                                  canter. Kaa said nothing, but, strive as Bagheera might, the
                                  huge Rock-python held level with him. When they came
                                  to a hill stream, Bagheera gained, because he bounded
                                  across while Kaa swam, his head and two feet of his neck





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