Page 59 - THE JUNGLE BOOK

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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