"Yes--we--I met him. He has a tale to tell and while he is
telling it there is time to do much. But first I will learn
what they mean. Think where ye would go, and tell me when
I come back."

He bounded through the window and ran along again outside the
wall of the village till he came within ear-shot of the crowd
round the peepul-tree. Buldeo was lying on the ground, coughing
and groaning, and every one was asking him questions. His hair
had fallen about his shoulders; his hands and legs were skinned
from climbing up trees, and he could hardly speak, but he felt
the importance of his position keenly. From time to time he
said something about devils and singing devils, and magic
enchantment, just to give the crowd a taste of what was coming.
Then he called for water.

"Bah!" said Mowgli. "Chatter--chatter! Talk, talk! Men are
blood-brothers of the Bandar-log. Now he must wash his mouth
with water; now he must blow smoke; and when all that is done
he has still his story to tell. They are very wise people--men.
They will leave no one to guard Messua till their ears are
stuffed with Buldeo's tales. And--I grow as lazy as they!"

He shook himself and glided back to the hut. Just as he was at
the window he felt a touch on his foot.

"Mother," said he, for he knew that tongue well, what dost
THOU here?"

"I heard my children singing through the woods, and I followed
the one I loved best. Little Frog, I have a desire to see
that woman who gave thee milk," said Mother Wolf, all wet
with the dew.

"They have bound and mean to kill her. I have cut those ties,
and she goes with her man through the Jungle."

"I also will follow. I am old, but not yet toothless." Mother
Wolf reared herself up on end, and looked through the window
into the dark of the hut.

In a minute she dropped noiselessly, and all she said was:
"I gave thee thy first milk; but Bagheera speaks truth:
Man goes to Man at the last."

"Maybe," said Mowgli, with a very unpleasant look on his face;
"but to-night I am very far from that trail. Wait here, but do
not let her see."

"THOU wast never afraid of ME, Little Frog," said Mother Wolf,
backing into the high grass, and blotting herself out, as she
knew how.

"And now," said Mowgli cheerfully, as he swung into the hut
again, "they are all sitting round Buldeo, who is saying that
which did not happen. When his talk is finished, they say they
will assuredly come here with the Red--with fire and burn you
both. And then?"

"I have spoken to my man," said Messua. Khanhiwara is thirty
miles from here, but at Khanhiwara we may find the English--"

"And what Pack are they?" said Mowgli.

"I do not know. They be white, and it is said that they govern
all the land, and do not suffer people to burn or beat each
other without witnesses. If we can get thither to-night, we
live. Otherwise we die."

"Live, then. No man passes the gates to-night. But what does HE
do?" Messua's husband was on his hands and knees digging up the
earth in one corner of the hut.

"It is his little money," said Messua. "We can take
nothing else."

"Ah, yes. The stuff that passes from hand to hand and never
grows warmer. Do they need it outside this place also?"
said Mowgli.

The man stared angrily. "He is a fool, and no devil," he
muttered. With the money I can buy a horse. We are too bruised
to walk far, and the village will follow us in an hour."

"I say they will NOT follow till I choose; but a horse is
well thought of, for Messua is tired." Her husband stood up
and knotted the last of the rupees into his waist-cloth.
Mowgli helped Messua through the window, and the cool night
air revived her, but the Jungle in the starlight looked very dark
and terrible.

"Ye know the trail to Khanhiwara?" Mowgli whispered.

They nodded.

'Good. Remember, now, not to be afraid. And there is no need to
go quickly. Only--only there may be some small singing in the
Jungle behind you and before."

"Think you we would have risked a night in the Jungle through


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