Читать книгу Stories from The Jungle Book / Книга Джунглей - Редьярд Киплинг - Страница 3

It was the night of the full moon, when the wolf pack met at the Council Rock. Akela, the leader of the pack, sat on the Rock and watched the wolves bring their young cubs for inspection. This was the Law. The older wolves were required to see each new cub, before it became a member of the pack.

Mother Wolf also brought her four cubs and Mowgli for inspection. She was filled with anxiety. What would the pack say when they saw the man-cub? Would they allow him into the pack?

Akela said, “Look at the cubs carefully, O wolves.”

The cubs were brought to the centre. One by one the older wolves came, sniffed each one, looked carefully and then returned to their places.

“Look well, O wolves,” repeated Akela.

Father Wolf pushed Mowgli into the centre. Mother Wolf was very worried as she looked on. Mowgli was laughing and rolling the stones he had found. He was too busy playing to be afraid.

A growl came from behind a rock. It was Shere Khan.

“The cub is mine,” he growled. “You are wolves. What will you do with a man-cub?”

A young wolf asked, “Why do we have a man-cub here? He is not one of us.”

“I know,” said Akela, “but if two of the pack speak for him, he may stay.”

Father and Mother Wolf looked around and waited. They were not allowed to speak for him. No one spoke.

Suddenly they heard a grunt. It was Baloo, the brown bear. He was the teacher of the wolf cubs. He taught them the Laws of the Jungle.

He said, “I speak for the man-cub. Let him be one of the pack. I shall teach him.”

“But we need one more,” said Akela.

A soft voice purred. “I come as a friend, Akela.” It was Bagheera, the black panther. “I speak for the man-cub. Let him stay, and I will give you a fat bull that I have just killed.”

“A fat bull, did you say?” asked the pack. They were always hungry. “Of course the man-cub can stay!”

Shere Khan was very angry. He gave a loud roar and returned to his lair.