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.
They fear me alone. They have good reason, said Kaa. Chattering,
foolish, vain--vain, foolish, and chattering, are the monkeys. But a
man-thing in their hands is in no good luck. They grow tired of the nuts
they pick, and throw them down. They carry a branch half a day, meaning
to do great things with it, and then they snap it in two. That man-thing
is not to be envied. They called me also--`yellow fish was it not?
Worm--worm--earth-worm, said Bagheera, as well as other things which
I cannot now say for shame.
We must remind them to speak well of their master. Aaa-ssp! We must
help their wandering memories. Now, whither went they with the cub?
The jungle alone knows. Toward the sunset, I believe, said Baloo. We
had thought that thou wouldst know, Kaa.
I? How? I take them when they come in my way, but I do not hunt the
Bandar-log, or frogs--or green scum on a water-hole, for that matter.
Up, Up! Up, Up! Hillo! Illo! Illo, look up, Baloo of the Seeonee Wolf
Pack!
Baloo looked up to see where the voice came from, and there was Rann the
Kite, sweeping down with the sun shining on the upturned flanges of his
wings. It was near Rann s bedtime, but he had ranged all over the jungle
looking for the Bear and had missed him in the thick foliage.
What is it? said Baloo.
I have seen Mowgli among the Bandar-log. He bade me tell you. I
watched. The Bandar-log have taken him beyond the river to the monkey
city--to the Cold Lairs. They may stay there for a night, or ten nights,
or an hour. I have told the bats to watch through the dark time. That is
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