Page 56 - THE JUNGLE BOOK

The Jungle Book

‘Indeed,’ Baloo began, ‘I am no more than the old and
sometimes very foolish Teacher of the Law to the Seeonee
wolf-cubs, and Bagheera here—‘
‘Is Bagheera,’ said the Black Panther, and his jaws shut

with a snap, for he did not believe in being humble. ‘The
trouble is this, Kaa. Those nut-stealers and pickers of palm
leaves have stolen away our man-cub of whom thou hast
perhaps heard.’
‘I heard some news from Ikki (his quills make him
presumptuous) of a man-thing that was entered into a wolf
pack, but I did not believe. Ikki is full of stories half heard
and very badly told.’
‘But it is true. He is such a man-cub as never was,’ said
Baloo. ‘The best and wisest and boldest of man-cubs—my
own pupil, who shall make the name of Baloo famous
through all the jungles; and besides, I—we—love him,
Kaa.’
‘Ts! Ts!’ said Kaa, weaving his head to and fro. ‘I also
have known what love is. There are tales I could tell
that—‘
‘That need a clear night when we are all well fed to
praise properly,’ said Bagheera quickly. ‘Our man-cub is
in the hands of the Bandar-log now, and we know that of
all the Jungle-People they fear Kaa alone.’

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