AndthisshedoessowellthatthereisnospringintheworldliketheJunglespring。
Thereisonedaywhenallthingsaretired,andtheverysmells,astheydriftontheheavyair,areoldandused。Onecannotexplainthis,butitfeelsso。Thenthereisanotherday——totheeyenothingwhateverhaschanged——whenallthesmellsarenewanddelightful,andthewhiskersoftheJunglePeoplequivertotheirroots,andthewinterhaircomesawayfromtheirsidesinlong,draggledlocks。Then,perhaps,alittlerainfalls,andallthetreesandthebushesandthebamboosandthemossesandthejuicy-leavedplantswakewithanoiseofgrowingthatyoucanalmosthear,andunderthisnoiseruns,dayandnight,adeephum。THATisthenoiseofthespring——avibratingboomwhichisneitherbees,norfallingwater,northewindintree-
tops,butthepurringofthewarm,happyworld。
UptothisyearMowglihadalwaysdelightedintheturnoftheseasons。ItwashewhogenerallysawthefirstEye-of-the-Springdeepdownamongthegrasses,andthefirstbankofspringclouds,whicharelikenothingelseintheJungle。Hisvoicecouldbeheardinallsortsofwet,star-lighted,blossomingplaces,helpingthebigfrogsthroughtheirchoruses,ormockingthelittleupside-downowlsthathootthroughthewhitenights。
Likeallhispeople,springwastheseasonhechoseforhisflittings——moving,forthemerejoyofrushingthroughthewarmair,thirty,forty,orfiftymilesbetweentwilightandthemorningstar,andcomingbackpantingandlaughingandwreathedwithstrangeflowers。TheFourdidnotfollowhimonthesewildringingsoftheJungle,butwentofftosingsongswithotherwolves。TheJunglePeopleareverybusyinthespring,andMowglicouldhearthemgruntingandscreamingandwhistlingaccordingtotheirkind。Theirvoicesthenaredifferentfromtheirvoicesatothertimesoftheyear,andthatisoneofthereasonswhyspringintheJungleiscalledtheTimeofNewTalk。
Butthatspring,ashetoldBagheera,hisstomachwaschangedinhim。Eversincethebambooshootsturnedspotty-brownhehadbeenlookingforwardtothemorningwhenthesmellsshouldchange。Butwhenthemorningcame,andMorthePeacock,blazinginbronzeandblueandgold,crieditaloudallalongthemistywoods,andMowgliopenedhismouthtosendonthecry,thewordschokedbetweenhisteeth,andafeelingcameoverhimthatbeganathistoesandendedinhishair——afeelingofpureunhappiness,sothathelookedhimselfovertobesurethathehadnottrodonathorn。Morcriedthenewsmells,theotherbirdstookitover,andfromtherocksbytheWaingungaheheardBagheera’shoarsescream——somethingbetweenthescreamofaneagleandtheneighingofahorse。TherewasayellingandscatteringofBandar-loginthenew-buddingbranchesabove,andtherestoodMowgli,hischest,filledtoanswerMor,sinkinginlittlegaspsasthebreathwasdrivenoutofitbythisunhappiness。
Hestaredallroundhim,buthecouldseenomorethanthemockingBandar-logscuddingthroughthetrees,andMor,histailspreadinfullsplendour,dancingontheslopesbelow。
\"Thesmellshavechanged,\"screamedMor。\"Goodhunting,LittleBrother!Whereisthyanswer?\"
\"LittleBrother,goodhunting!\"whistledChiltheKiteandhismate,swoopingdowntogether。ThetwobaffedunderMowgli’snosesoclosethatapinchofdownywhitefeathersbrushedaway。
Alightspringrain——elephant-raintheycallit——droveacrosstheJungleinabelthalfamilewide,leftthenewleaveswetandnoddingbehind,anddiedoutinadoublerainbowandalightrollofthunder。Thespringhumbrokeoutforaminute,andwassilent,butalltheJungleFolkseemedtobegivingtongueatonce。AllexceptMowgli。
\"Ihaveeatengoodfood,\"hesaidtohimself。\"Ihavedrunkgoodwater。Nordoesmythroatburnandgrowsmall,asitdidwhenIbittheblue-spottedrootthatOotheTurtlesaidwascleanfood。Butmystomachisheavy,andIhavegivenverybadtalktoBagheeraandothers,peopleoftheJungleandmypeople。
Now,too,IamhotandnowIamcold,andnowIamneitherhotnorcold,butangrywiththatwhichIcannotsee。Huhu!Itistimetomakearunning!To-nightIwillcrosstheranges;yes,IwillmakeaspringrunningtotheMarshesoftheNorth,andbackagain。Ihavehuntedtooeasilytoolong。TheFourshallcomewithme,fortheygrowasfataswhitegrubs。\"
Hecalled,butneveroneoftheFouranswered。Theywerefarbeyondearshot,singingoverthespringsongs——theMoonandSambhurSongs——withthewolvesofthepack;forinthespring-
timetheJunglePeoplemakeverylittledifferencebetweenthedayandthenight。Hegavethesharp,barkingnote,buthisonlyanswerwasthemockingmaiouofthelittlespottedtree-catwindinginandoutamongthebranchesforearlybirds’nests。
Atthisheshookalloverwithrage,andhalfdrewhisknife。
Thenhebecameveryhaughty,thoughtherewasnoonetoseehim,andstalkedseverelydownthehillside,chinupandeyebrowsdown。Butneverasingleoneofhispeopleaskedhimaquestion,fortheywerealltoobusywiththeirownaffairs。
\"Yes,\"saidMowglitohimself,thoughinhisheartheknewthathehadnoreason。\"LettheRedDholecomefromtheDekkan,ortheRedFlowerdanceamongthebamboos,andalltheJunglerunswhiningtoMowgli,callinghimgreatelephant-names。
Butnow,becauseEye-of-the-Springisred,andMor,forsooth,mustshowhisnakedlegsinsomespringdance,theJunglegoesmadasTabaqui……BytheBullthatboughtme!amItheMasteroftheJungle,oramInot?Besilent!Whatdoyehere?\"
AcoupleofyoungwolvesofthePackwerecanteringdownapath,lookingforopengroundinwhichtofight。(YouwillrememberthattheLawoftheJungleforbidsfightingwherethePackcansee。)Theirneck-bristleswereasstiffaswire,andtheybayedfuriously,crouchingforthefirstgrapple。Mowglileapedforward,caughtoneoutstretchedthroatineitherhand,expectingtoflingthecreaturesbackwardashehadoftendoneingamesorPackhunts。Buthehadneverbeforeinterferedwithaspringfight。Thetwoleapedforwardanddashedhimaside,andwithoutwordtowasterolledoverandovercloselocked。
Mowgliwasonhisfeetalmostbeforehefell,hisknifeandhiswhiteteethwerebared,andatthatminutehewouldhavekilledbothfornoreasonbutthattheywerefightingwhenhewishedthemtobequiet,althougheverywolfhasfullrightundertheLawtofight。Hedancedroundthemwithloweredshouldersandquiveringhand,readytosendinadoubleblowwhenthefirstflurryofthescuffleshouldbeover;butwhilehewaitedthestrengthseemedtoebbfromhisbody,theknife-pointlowered,andhesheathedtheknifeandwatched。
\"Ihavesurelyeatenpoison,\"hesighedatlast。SinceIbrokeuptheCouncilwiththeRedFlower——sinceIkilledShereKhan——
noneofthePackcouldflingmeaside。Andthesebeonlytail-
wolvesinthePack,littlehunters!Mystrengthisgonefromme,andpresentlyIshalldie。Oh,Mowgli,whydostthounotkillthemboth?\"
Thefightwentontillonewolfranaway,andMowgliwasleftaloneonthetornandbloodyground,lookingnowathisknife,andnowathislegsandarms,whilethefeelingofunhappinesshehadneverknownbeforecoveredhimaswatercoversalog。
Hekilledearlythateveningandatebutlittle,soastobeingoodfettleforhisspringrunning,andheatealonebecausealltheJunglePeoplewereawaysingingorfighting。Itwasaperfectwhitenight,astheycallit。Allgreenthingsseemedtohavemadeamonth’sgrowthsincethemorning。Thebranchthatwasyellow-leavedthedaybeforedrippedsapwhenMowglibrokeit。Themossescurleddeepandwarmoverhisfeet,theyounggrasshadnocuttingedges,andallthevoicesoftheJungleboomedlikeonedeepharp-stringtouchedbythemoon——theMoonofNewTalk,whosplashedherlightfullonrockandpool,slippeditbetweentrunkandcreeper,andsifteditthroughamillionleaves。Forgettinghisunhappiness,Mowglisangaloudwithpuredelightashesettledintohisstride。Itwasmorelikeflyingthananythingelse,forhehadchosenthelongdownwardslopethatleadstotheNorthernMarshesthroughtheheartofthemainJungle,wherethespringygrounddeadenedthefallofhisfeet。Aman-taughtmanwouldhavepickedhiswaywithmanystumblesthroughthecheatingmoonlight,butMowgli’smuscles,trainedbyyearsofexperience,borehimupasthoughhewereafeather。Whenarottenlogorahiddenstoneturnedunderhisfoothesavedhimself,nevercheckinghispace,withouteffortandwithoutthought。Whenhetiredofground-
goinghethrewuphishandsmonkey-fashiontothenearestcreeper,andseemedtofloatratherthantoclimbupintothethinbranches,whencehewouldfollowatree-roadtillhismoodchanged,andheshotdownwardinalong,leafycurvetothelevelsagain。Therewerestill,hothollowssurroundedbywetrockswherehecouldhardlybreathefortheheavyscentsofthenightflowersandthebloomalongthecreeperbuds;darkavenueswherethemoonlightlayinbeltsasregularascheckeredmarblesinachurchaisle;thicketswherethewetyounggrowthstoodbreast-highabouthimandthrewitsarmsroundhiswaist;
andhilltopscrownedwithbrokenrock,whereheleapedfromstonetostoneabovethelairsofthefrightenedlittlefoxes。
Hewouldhear,veryfaintandfaroff,thechug-drugofaboarsharpeninghistusksonabole;andwouldcomeacrossthegreatgraybruteallalone,scribingandrendingthebarkofatalltree,hismouthdrippingwithfoam,andhiseyesblazinglikefire。Orhewouldturnasidetothesoundofclashinghornsandhissinggrunts,anddashpastacoupleoffurioussambhur,staggeringtoandfrowithloweredheads,stripedwithbloodthatshowedblackinthemoonlight。OratsomerushingfordhewouldhearJacalatheCrocodilebellowinglikeabull,ordisturbatwinedknotofthePoisonPeople,butbeforetheycouldstrikehewouldbeawayandacrosstheglisteningshingle,anddeepintheJungleagain。
Soheran,sometimesshouting,sometimessingingtohimself,thehappiestthinginalltheJunglethatnight,tillthesmelloftheflowerswarnedhimthathewasnearthemarshes,andthoselayfarbeyondhisfarthesthunting-grounds。
Here,again,aman-trainedmanwouldhavesunkoverheadinthreestrides,butMowgli’sfeethadeyesinthem,andtheypassedhimfromtussocktotussockandclumptoquakingclumpwithoutaskinghelpfromtheeyesinhishead。Heranouttothemiddleoftheswamp,disturbingtheduckasheran,andsatdownonamoss-coatedtree-trunklappedintheblackwater。Themarshwasawakeallroundhim,forinthespringtheBirdPeoplesleepverylightly,andcompaniesofthemwerecomingorgoingthenightthrough。ButnoonetookanynoticeofMowglisittingamongthetallreedshummingsongswithoutwords,andlookingatthesolesofhishardbrownfeetincaseofneglectedthorns。
AllhisunhappinessseemedtohavebeenleftbehindinhisownJungle,andhewasjustbeginningafull-throatsongwhenitcamebackagain——tentimesworsethanbefore。
ThistimeMowgliwasfrightened。\"Itisherealso!\"hesaidhalfaloud。\"Ithasfollowedme,\"andhelookedoverhisshouldertoseewhethertheItwerenotstandingbehindhim。\"Thereisnoonehere。\"Thenightnoisesofthemarshwenton,butneverabirdorbeastspoketohim,andthenewfeelingofmiserygrew。
\"Ihavesurelyeatenpoison,\"hesaidinanawe-strickenvoice。
\"ItmustbethatcarelesslyIhaveeatenpoison,andmystrengthisgoingfromme。Iwasafraid——andyetitwasnot_I_thatwasafraid——Mowgliwasafraidwhenthetwowolvesfought。Akela,orevenPhao,wouldhavesilencedthem;yetMowgliwasafraid。
ThatistruesignIhaveeatenpoison……ButwhatdotheycareintheJungle?Theysingandhowlandfight,andrunincompaniesunderthemoon,andI——Hai-mai!——Iamdyinginthemarshes,ofthatpoisonwhichIhaveeaten。\"Hewassosorryforhimselfthathenearlywept。\"Andafter,\"hewenton,\"theywillfindmelyingintheblackwater。Nay,IwillgobacktomyownJungle,andIwilldieupontheCouncilRock,andBagheera,whomIlove,ifheisnotscreaminginthevalley——Bagheera,perhaps,maywatchbywhatisleftforalittle,lestChilusemeasheusedAkela。\"
Alarge,warmtearsplasheddownonhisknee,and,miserableashewas,Mowglifelthappythathewassomiserable,ifyoucanunderstandthatupside-downsortofhappiness。\"AsChiltheKiteusedAkela,\"herepeated,\"onthenightIsavedthePackfromRedDog。\"Hewasquietforalittle,thinkingofthelastwordsoftheLoneWolf,whichyou,ofcourse,remember。
\"NowAkelasaidtomemanyfoolishthingsbeforehedied,forwhenwedieourstomachschange。Hesaid……Nonetheless,IAMoftheJungle!\"
Inhisexcitement,asherememberedthefightonWaingungabank,heshoutedthelastwordsaloud,andawildbuffalo-cowamongthereedssprangtoherknees,snorting,\"Man!\"
\"Uhh!\"saidMysatheWildBuffalo(Mowglicouldhearhimturninhiswallow),\"THATisnoman。ItisonlythehairlesswolfoftheSeeoneePack。Onsuchnightsrunshetoandfro。\"
\"Uhh!\"saidthecow,droppingherheadagaintograze,\"IthoughtitwasMan。\"
\"Isayno。Oh,Mowgli,isitdanger?\"lowedMysa。
\"Oh,Mowgli,isitdanger?\"theboycalledbackmockingly。
\"ThatisallMysathinksfor:Isitdanger?ButforMowgli,whogoestoandfrointheJunglebynight,watching,whatdoyecare?\"
\"Howloudhecries!\"saidthecow。\"Thusdotheycry,\"Mysaansweredcontemptuously,\"who,havingtornupthegrass,knownothowtoeatit。\"
\"Forlessthanthis,\"Mowgligroanedtohimself,forlessthanthisevenlastRainsIhadprickedMysaoutofhiswallow,andriddenhimthroughtheswamponarushhalter。\"Hestretchedahandtobreakoneofthefeatheryreeds,butdrewitbackwithasigh。Mysawentonsteadilychewingthecud,andthelonggrassrippedwherethecowgrazed。\"IwillnotdieHERE,\"
hesaidangrily。\"Mysa,whoisofonebloodwithJacalaandthepig,wouldseeme。Letusgobeyondtheswampandseewhatcomes。NeverhaveIrunsuchaspringrunning——hotandcoldtogether。Up,Mowgli!\"
HecouldnotresistthetemptationofstealingacrossthereedstoMysaandprickinghimwiththepointofhisknife。Thegreatdrippingbullbrokeoutofhiswallowlikeashellexploding,whileMowglilaughedtillhesatdown。
\"SaynowthatthehairlesswolfoftheSeeoneePackonceherdedthee,Mysa,\"hecalled。
\"Wolf!THOU?\"thebullsnorted,stampinginthemud。\"Allthejungleknowsthouwastaherderoftamecattle——suchaman’sbratasshoutsinthedustbythecropsyonder。THOUoftheJungle!Whathunterwouldhavecrawledlikeasnakeamongtheleeches,andforamuddyjest——ajackal’sjest——haveshamedmebeforemycow?Cometofirmground,andIwill——Iwill……\"
Mysafrothedatthemouth,forMysahasnearlytheworsttemperofanyoneintheJungle。
Mowgliwatchedhimpuffandblowwitheyesthatneverchanged。
Whenhecouldmakehimselfheardthroughthepatteringmud,hesaid:\"WhatMan-Packlairherebythemarshes,Mysa?ThisisnewJungletome。\"
\"Gonorth,then,\"roaredtheangrybull,forMowglihadprickedhimrathersharply。\"Itwasanakedcow-herd’sjest。Goandtellthematthevillageatthefootofthemarsh。\"
\"TheMan-Packdonotlovejungle-tales,nordoIthink,Mysa,thatascratchmoreorlessonthyhideisanymatterforacouncil。ButIwillgoandlookatthisvillage。Yes,Iwillgo。
Softlynow。ItisnoteverynightthattheMasteroftheJunglecomestoherdthee。\"
Hesteppedouttotheshiveringgroundontheedgeofthemarsh,wellknowingthatMysawouldneverchargeoveritandlaughed,asheran,tothinkofthebull’sanger。
\"Mystrengthisnotaltogethergone,\"hesaid。Itmaybethatthepoisonisnottothebone。Thereisastarsittinglowyonder。\"Helookedatitbetweenhishalf-shuthands。\"BytheBullthatboughtme,itistheRedFlower——theRedFlowerthatIlaybesidebefore——beforeIcameeventothefirstSeeoneePack!NowthatIhaveseen,Iwillfinishtherunning。\"
Themarshendedinabroadplainwherealighttwinkled。
ItwasalongtimesinceMowglihadconcernedhimselfwiththedoingsofmen,butthisnighttheglimmeroftheRedFlowerdrewhimforward。
\"Iwilllook,\"saidhe,\"asIdidintheolddays,andIwillseehowfartheMan-Packhaschanged。\"
ForgettingthathewasnolongerinhisownJungle,wherehecoulddowhathepleased,hetrodcarelesslythroughthedew-
loadedgrassestillhecametothehutwherethelightstood。
Threeorfouryelpingdogsgavetongue,forhewasontheoutskirtsofavillage。
\"Ho!\"saidMowgli,sittingdownnoiselessly,aftersendingbackadeepwolf-growlthatsilencedthecurs。\"Whatcomeswillcome。
Mowgli,whathastthoutodoanymorewiththelairsoftheMan-Pack?\"Herubbedhismouth,rememberingwhereastonehadstruckityearsagowhentheotherMan-Packhadcasthimout。
Thedoorofthehutopened,andawomanstoodpeeringoutintothedarkness。Achildcried,andthewomansaidoverhershoulder,\"Sleep。Itwasbutajackalthatwakedthedogs。
Inalittletimemorningcomes。\"
Mowgliinthegrassbegantoshakeasthoughhehadfever。
Heknewthatvoicewell,buttomakesurehecriedsoftly,surprisedtofindhowman’stalkcameback,\"Messua!OMessua!\"
\"Whocalls?\"saidthewoman,aquiverinhervoice。
\"Hastthouforgotten?\"saidMowgli。Histhroatwasdryashespoke。
\"IfitbeTHOU,whatnamedidIgivethee?Say!\"Shehadhalfshutthedoor,andherhandwasclutchingatherbreast。
\"Nathoo!Ohe,Nathoo!\"saidMowgli,for,asyouremember,thatwasthenameMessuagavehimwhenhefirstcametotheMan-Pack。
\"Come,myson,\"shecalled,andMowglisteppedintothelight,andlookedfullatMessua,thewomanwhohadbeengoodtohim,andwhoselifehehadsavedfromtheMan-Packsolongbefore。
Shewasolder,andherhairwasgray,buthereyesandhervoicehadnotchanged。Woman-like,sheexpectedtofindMowgliwhereshehadlefthim,andhereyestravelledupwardinapuzzledwayfromhischesttohishead,thattouchedthetopofthedoor。
\"Myson,\"shestammered;andthen,sinkingtohisfeet:\"Butitisnolongermyson。ItisaGodlingoftheWoods!Ahai!\"
Ashestoodintheredlightoftheoil-lamp,strong,tall,andbeautiful,hislongblackhairsweepingoverhisshoulders,theknifeswingingathisneck,andhisheadcrownedwithawreathofwhitejasmine,hemighteasilyhavebeenmistakenforsomewildgodofajunglelegend。Thechildhalfasleeponacotsprangupandshriekedaloudwithterror。Messuaturnedtosoothehim,whileMowglistoodstill,lookinginatthewater-
jarsandthecooking-pots,thegrain-bin,andalltheotherhumanbelongingsthathefoundhimselfrememberingsowell。
\"Whatwiltthoueatordrink?\"Messuamurmured。\"Thisisallthine。Weoweourlivestothee。ButartthouhimIcalledNathoo,oraGodling,indeed?\"
\"IamNathoo,\"saidMowgli,\"Iamveryfarfrommyownplace。
Isawthislight,andcamehither。Ididnotknowthouwasthere。\"
\"AfterwecametoKhanhiwara,\"Messuasaidtimidly,\"theEnglishwouldhavehelpedusagainstthosevillagersthatsoughttoburnus。Rememberestthou?\"
\"Indeed,Ihavenotforgotten。\"
\"ButwhentheEnglishLawwasmadeready,wewenttothevillageofthoseevilpeople,anditwasnomoretobefound。\"
\"ThatalsoIremember,\"saidMowgli,withaquiverofhisnostril。
\"Myman,therefore,tookserviceinthefields,andatlast——
for,indeed,hewasastrongman——weheldalittlelandhere。
Itisnotsorichastheoldvillage,butwedonotneedmuch——
wetwo。\"
\"Whereishethemanthatduginthedirtwhenhewasafraidonthatnight?\"
\"Heisdead——ayear。\"
\"Andhe?\"Mowglipointedtothechild。
\"MysonthatwasborntwoRainsago。IfthouartaGodling,givehimtheFavouroftheJungle,thathemaybesafeamongthy——thypeople,asweweresafeonthatnight。\"
Sheliftedupthechild,who,forgettinghisfright,reachedouttoplaywiththeknifethathungonMowgli’schest,andMowgliputthelittlefingersasideverycarefully。
\"AndifthouartNathoowhomthetigercarriedaway,\"Messuawenton,choking,\"heisthenthyyoungerbrother。Givehimanelderbrother’sblessing。\"
\"Hai-mai!WhatdoIknowofthethingcalledablessing?
IamneitheraGodlingnorhisbrother,and——Omother,mother,myheartisheavyinme。\"Heshiveredashesetdownthechild。
\"Likeenough,\"saidMessua,bustlingamongthecooking-pots。
\"Thiscomesofrunningaboutthemarshesbynight。
Beyondquestion,thefeverhadsoakedtheetothemarrow。\"
MowglismiledalittleattheideaofanythingintheJunglehurtinghim。\"Iwillmakeafire,andthoushaltdrinkwarmmilk。Putawaythejasminewreath:thesmellisheavyinsosmallaplace。\"
Mowglisatdown,muttering,withhisfaceinhishands。
Allmannerofstrangefeelingsthathehadneverfeltbeforewererunningoverhim,exactlyasthoughhehadbeenpoisoned,andhefeltdizzyandalittlesick。Hedrankthewarmmilkinlonggulps,Messuapattinghimontheshoulderfromtimetotime,notquitesurewhetherhewerehersonNathooofthelongagodays,orsomewonderfulJunglebeing,butgladtofeelthathewasatleastfleshandblood。
\"Son,\"shesaidatlast,——hereyeswerefullofpride,——
\"haveanytoldtheethatthouartbeautifulbeyondallmen?\"
\"Hah?\"saidMowgli,fornaturallyhehadneverheardanythingofthekind。Messualaughedsoftlyandhappily。Thelookinhisfacewasenoughforher。
\"Iamthefirst,then?Itisright,thoughitcomesseldom,thatamothershouldtellhersonthesegoodthings。Thouartverybeautiful。NeverhaveIlookeduponsuchaman。\"
Mowglitwistedhisheadandtriedtoseeoverhisownhardshoulder,andMessualaughedagainsolongthatMowgli,notknowingwhy,wasforcedtolaughwithher,andthechildranfromonetotheother,laughingtoo。
\"Nay,thoumustnotmockthybrother,\"saidMessua,catchinghimtoherbreast。\"Whenthouartone-halfasfairwewillmarrytheetotheyoungestdaughterofaking,andthoushaltridegreatelephants。\"
Mowglicouldnotunderstandonewordinthreeofthetalkhere;
thewarmmilkwastakingeffectonhimafterhislongrun,sohecurledupandinaminutewasdeepasleep,andMessuaputthehairbackfromhiseyes,threwaclothoverhim,andwashappy。
Jungle-fashion,hesleptouttherestofthatnightandallthenextday;forhisinstincts,whichneverwhollyslept,warnedhimtherewasnothingtofear。Hewakedatlastwithaboundthatshookthehut,fortheclothoverhisfacemadehimdreamoftraps;andtherehestood,hishandonhisknife,thesleepallheavyinhisrollingeyes,readyforanyfight。
Messualaughed,andsettheeveningmealbeforehim。Therewereonlyafewcoarsecakesbakedoverthesmokyfire,somerice,andalumpofsourpreservedtamarinds——justenoughtogoonwithtillhecouldgettohiseveningkill。Thesmellofthedewinthemarshesmadehimhungryandrestless。Hewantedtofinishhisspringrunning,butthechildinsistedonsittinginhisarms,andMessuawouldhaveitthathislong,blue-blackhairmusthecombedout。Soshesang,asshecombed,foolishlittlebaby-songs,nowcallingMowgliherson,andnowbegginghimtogivesomeofhisjunglepowertothechild。Thehutdoorwasclosed,butMowgliheardasoundheknewwell,andsawMessua’sjawdropwithhorrorasagreatgraypawcameunderthebottomofthedoor,andGrayBrotheroutsidewhinedamuffledandpenitentwhineofanxietyandfear。
\"Outandwait!YewouldnotcomewhenIcalled,\"saidMowgliinJungle-talk,withoutturninghishead,andthegreatgraypawdisappeared。
\"Donot——donotbringthy——thyservantswiththee,\"saidMessua。
\"I——wehavealwayslivedatpeacewiththeJungle。\"
\"Itispeace,\"saidMowgli,rising。\"ThinkofthatnightontheroadtoKhanhiwara。Therewerescoresofsuchfolkbeforetheeandbehindthee。ButIseethateveninspringtimetheJunglePeopledonotalwaysforget。Mother,Igo。\"
Messuadrewasidehumbly——hewasindeedawood-god,shethought;
butashishandwasonthedoorthemotherinhermadeherthrowherarmsroundMowgli’sneckagainandagain。
\"Comeback!\"shewhispered。\"Sonornoson,comeback,forI
lovethee——Look,hetoogrieves。\"
Thechildwascryingbecausethemanwiththeshinyknifewasgoingaway。
\"Comebackagain,\"Messuarepeated。\"Bynightorbydaythisdoorisnevershuttothee。\"
Mowgli’sthroatworkedasthoughthecordsinitwerebeingpulled,andhisvoiceseemedtobedraggedfromitasheanswered,\"Iwillsurelycomeback。\"
\"Andnow,\"hesaid,asheputbytheheadofthefawningwolfonthethreshold,\"Ihavealittlecryagainstthee,GrayBrother。
WhycameyenotallfourwhenIcalledsolongago?\"
\"Solongago?Itwasbutlastnight。I——we——weresingingintheJunglethenewsongs,forthisistheTimeofNewTalk。
Rememberestthou?\"
\"Truly,truly。\"
\"Andassoonasthesongsweresung,\"GrayBrotherwentonearnestly,\"Ifollowedthytrail。Iranfromalltheothersandfollowedhot-foot。But,OLittleBrother,whathastTHOUdone,eatingandsleepingwiththeMan-Pack?\"
\"IfyehadcomewhenIcalled,thishadneverbeen,\"saidMowgli,runningmuchfaster。
\"Andnowwhatistobe?\"saidGrayBrother。Mowgliwasgoingtoanswerwhenagirlinawhiteclothcamedownsomepaththatledfromtheoutskirtsofthevillage。GrayBrotherdroppedoutofsightatonce,andMowglibackednoiselesslyintoafieldofhigh-springingcrops。Hecouldalmosthavetouchedherwithhishandwhenthewarm,greenstalksclosedbeforehisfaceandhedisappearedlikeaghost。Thegirlscreamed,forshethoughtshehadseenaspirit,andthenshegaveadeepsigh。
Mowglipartedthestalkswithhishandsandwatchedhertillshewasoutofsight。
\"AndnowIdonotknow,\"hesaid,sighinginhisturn。\"WHYdidyenotcomewhenIcalled?\"
\"Wefollowthee——wefollowthee,\"GrayBrothermumbled,lickingatMowgli’sheel。\"Wefollowtheealways,exceptintheTimeoftheNewTalk。\"
\"AndwouldyefollowmetotheMan-Pack?\"Mowgliwhispered。
\"DidInotfollowtheeonthenightouroldPackcasttheeout?
Whowakedtheelyingamongthecrops?\"
\"Ay,butagain?\"
\"HaveInotfollowedtheeto-night?\"
\"Ay,butagainandagain,anditmaybeagain,GrayBrother?\"
GrayBrotherwassilent。Whenhespokehegrowledtohimself,\"TheBlackOnespoketruth。\"
\"Andhesaid?\"
\"MangoestoManatthelast。Raksha,ourmother,said————\"
\"SoalsosaidAkelaonthenightofRedDog,\"Mowglimuttered。
\"SoalsosaysKaa,whoiswiserthanusall。\"
\"Whatdostthousay,GrayBrother?\"
\"Theycasttheeoutonce,withbadtalk。Theycutthymouthwithstones。TheysentBuldeotoslaythee。TheywouldhavethrowntheeintotheRedFlower。Thou,andnotI,hastsaidthattheyareevilandsenseless。Thou,andnotI——Ifollowmyownpeople——didstletintheJungleuponthem。Thou,andnotI,didstmakesongagainstthemmorebittereventhanoursongagainstRedDog。\"
\"IasktheewhatTHOUsayest?\"
Theyweretalkingastheyran。GrayBrothercanteredonawhilewithoutreplying,andthenhesaid,——betweenboundandboundasitwere,——\"Man-cub——MasteroftheJungle——SonofRaksha,Lair-
brothertome——thoughIforgetforalittlewhileinthespring,thytrailismytrail,thylairismylair,thykillismykill,andthydeath-fightismydeath-fight。IspeakfortheThree。
ButwhatwiltthousaytotheJungle?\"
\"Thatiswellthought。Betweenthesightandthekillitisnotgoodtowait。GobeforeandcrythemalltotheCouncilRock,andIwilltellthemwhatisinmystomach。Buttheymaynotcome——intheTimeofNewTalktheymayforgetme。\"
\"Hastthou,then,forgottennothing?\"snappedGrayBrotheroverhisshoulder,ashelaidhimselfdowntogallop,andMowglifollowed,thinking。
AtanyotherseasonthenewswouldhavecalledalltheJungletogetherwithbristlingnecks,butnowtheywerebusyhuntingandfightingandkillingandsinging。FromonetoanotherGrayBrotherran,crying,\"TheMasteroftheJunglegoesbacktoMan!
CometotheCouncilRock。\"Andthehappy,eagerPeopleonlyanswered,\"Hewillreturninthesummerheats。TheRainswilldrivehimtolair。Runandsingwithus,GrayBrother。\"
\"ButtheMasteroftheJunglegoesbacktoMan,\"GrayBrotherwouldrepeat。
\"Eee——Yoawa?IstheTimeofNewTalkanylesssweetforthat?\"
theywouldreply。SowhenMowgli,heavy-hearted,cameupthroughthewell-rememberedrockstotheplacewherehehadbeenbroughtintotheCouncil,hefoundonlytheFour,Baloo,whowasnearlyblindwithage,andtheheavy,cold-bloodedKaacoiledaroundAkela’semptyseat。
\"Thytrailendshere,then,Manling?\"saidKaa,asMowglithrewhimselfdown,hisfaceinhishands。\"Crythycry。Webeofoneblood,thouandI——manandsnaketogether。\"
\"WhydidInotdieunderRedDog?\"theboymoaned。\"Mystrengthisgonefromme,anditisnotanypoison。BynightandbydayIhearadoublestepuponmytrail。WhenIturnmyheaditisasthoughonehadhiddenhimselffrommethatinstant。Igotolookbehindthetreesandheisnotthere。Icallandnonecryagain;
butitisasthoughonelistenedandkeptbacktheanswer。Iliedown,butIdonotrest。Irunthespringrunning,butIamnotmadestill。Ibathe,butIamnotmadecool。Thekillsickensme,butIhavenohearttofightexceptIkill。TheRedFlowerisinmybody,mybonesarewater——and——IknownotwhatIknow。\"
\"Whatneedoftalk?\"saidBalooslowly,turninghisheadtowhereMowglilay。\"Akelabytheriversaidit,thatMowglishoulddriveMowglibacktotheMan-Pack。Isaidit。ButwholistensnowtoBaloo?Bagheera——whereisBagheerathisnight?——
heknowsalso。ItistheLaw。\"
\"WhenwemetatColdLairs,Manling,Iknewit,\"saidKaa,turningalittleinhismightycoils。\"MangoestoManatthelast,thoughtheJungledoesnotcasthimout。\"
TheFourlookedatoneanotherandatMowgli,puzzledbutobedient。
\"TheJungledoesnotcastmeout,then?\"Mowglistammered。
GrayBrotherandtheThreegrowledfuriously,beginning,\"Solongaswelivenoneshalldare————\"ButBaloocheckedthem。
\"ItaughttheetheLaw。Itisformetospeak,\"hesaid;
\"and,thoughIcannotnowseetherocksbeforeme,Iseefar。
LittleFrog,takethineowntrail;makethylairwiththineownbloodandpackandpeople;butwhenthereisneedoffootortoothoreye,orawordcarriedswiftlybynight,remember,MasteroftheJungle,theJungleisthineatcall。\"
\"TheMiddleJungleisthinealso,\"saidKaa。Ispeakfornosmallpeople。\"
\"Hai-mai,mybrothers,\"criedMowgli,throwinguphisarmswithasob。\"IknownotwhatIknow!Iwouldnotgo;butIamdrawnbybothfeet。HowshallIleavethesenights?\"
\"Nay,lookup,LittleBrother,\"Baloorepeated。Thereisnoshameinthishunting。Whenthehoneyiseatenweleavetheemptyhive。\"
\"Havingcasttheskin,\"saidKaa,\"wemaynotcreepintoitafresh。ItistheLaw。\"
\"Listen,dearestofalltome,\"saidBaloo。Thereisneitherwordnorwillheretoholdtheeback。Lookup!WhomayquestiontheMasteroftheJungle?Isawtheeplayingamongthewhitepebblesyonderwhenthouwastalittlefrog;andBagheera,thatboughttheeforthepriceofayoungbullnewlykilled,sawtheealso。OfthatLookingOverwetwoonlyremain;
forRaksha,thylair-mother,isdeadwiththylair-father;
theoldWolf-Packislongsincedead;thouknowestwhitherShereKhanwent,andAkeladiedamongthedholes,where,butforthywisdomandstrength,thesecondSeeoneePackwouldalsohavedied。Thereremainsnothingbutoldbones。ItisnolongertheMan-cubthatasksleaveofhisPack,buttheMasteroftheJunglethatchangeshistrail。WhoshallquestionManinhisways?\"
\"ButBagheeraandtheBullthatboughtme,\"saidMowgli。
\"Iwouldnot————\"
Hiswordswerecutshortbyaroarandacrashinthethicketbelow,andBagheera,light,strong,andterribleasalways,stoodbeforehim。
\"Therefore,\"hesaid,stretchingoutadrippingrightpaw,\"Ididnotcome。Itwasalonghunt,butheliesdeadinthebushesnow——abullinhissecondyear——theBullthatfreesthee,LittleBrother。Alldebtsarepaidnow。Fortherest,mywordisBaloo’sword。\"HelickedMowgli’sfoot。\"Remember,Bagheeralovedthee,\"hecried,andboundedaway。Atthefootofthehillhecriedagainlongandloud,\"Goodhuntingonanewtrail,MasteroftheJungle!Remember,Bagheeralovedthee。\"
\"Thouhastheard,\"saidBaloo。\"Thereisnomore。Gonow;
butfirstcometome。OwiseLittleFrog,cometome!\"
\"Itishardtocasttheskin,\"saidKaaasMowglisobbedandsobbed,withhisheadontheblindbear’ssideandhisarmsroundhisneck,whileBalootriedfeeblytolickhisfeet。
\"Thestarsarethin,\"saidGrayBrother,snuffingatthedawnwind。\"Whereshallwelairto-day?forfromnow,wefollownewtrails。\"……
AndthisisthelastoftheMowglistories。
THEOUTSONG
[ThisisthesongthatMowgliheardbehindhimintheJungletillhecametoMessua’sdooragain。]
BalooForthesakeofhimwhoshowedOnewiseFrogtheJungle-Road,KeeptheLawtheMan-Packmake——
ForthyblindoldBaloo’ssake!
Cleanortainted,hotorstale,HolditasitweretheTrail,Throughthedayandthroughthenight,Questingneitherleftnorright。
ForthesakeofhimwholovesTheebeyondallelsethatmoves,WhenthyPackwouldmaketheepain,Say:\"Tabaquisingsagain。\"
WhenthyPackwouldworktheeill,Say:\"ShereKhanisyettokill。\"
Whentheknifeisdrawntoslay,KeeptheLawandgothyway。
(Rootandhoney,palmandspathe,Guardacubfromharmandscathe!)
WoodandWater,WindandTree,Jungle-Favourgowiththee!
KaaAngeristheeggofFear——
Onlylidlesseyesareclear。
Cobra-poisonnonemayleech。
EvensowithCobra-speech。
OpentalkshallcalltotheeStrength,whosemateisCourtesy。
Sendnolungebeyondthylength;
Lendnorottenboughthystrength。
Gaugethygapewithbuckorgoat,Lestthineeyeshouldchokethythroat,Aftergorging,wouldstthousleep?
Lookthydenishidanddeep,Lestawrong,bytheeforgot,Drawthykillertothespot。
EastandWestandNorthandSouth,Washthyhideandclosethymouth。
(Pitandriftandbluepool-brim,Middle-Junglefollowhim!)
WoodandWater,WindandTree,Jungle-Favourgowiththee!
BagheeraInthecagemylifebegan;
WellIknowtheworthofMan。
BytheBrokenLockthatfreed——
Man-cub,’waretheMan-cub’sbreed!
Scenting-deworstarlightpale,Choosenotangledtree-cattrail。
Packorcouncil,huntorden,CrynotrucewithJackal-Men。
Feedthemsilencewhentheysay:
\"Comewithusaneasyway。\"
FeedthemsilencewhentheyseekHelpofthinetohurttheweak。
Makenobanaar’sboastofskill;
Holdthypeaceabovethekill。
LetnorcallnorsongnorsignTurntheefromthyhunting-line。
(Morningmistortwilightclear,Servehim,WardensoftheDeer!)
WoodandWater,WindandTree,Jungle-Favourgowiththee!
TheThreeOnthetrailthatthoumusttreadTothethresholdsofourdread,WheretheFlowerblossomsred;
ThroughthenightswhenthoushaltliePrisonedfromourMother-sky,Hearingus,thyloves,goby;
InthedawnswhenthoushaltwakeTothetoilthoucanstnotbreak,HeartsickfortheJungle’ssake:
WoodandWater,WindandTree,Wisdom,Strength,andCourtesy,Jungle-Favourgowiththee!