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the ravine by the dhak tree in the center of the plain。 We need
not walk into Shere Khan's mouth。〃
Then Mowgli picked out a shady place； and lay down and slept
while the buffaloes grazed round him。 Herding in India is one of
the laziest things in the world。 The cattle move and crunch； and
lie down； and move on again； and they do not even low。 They only
grunt； and the buffaloes very seldom say anything； but get down
into the muddy pools one after another； and work their way into
the mud till only their noses and staring china…blue eyes show
above the surface； and then they lie like logs。 The sun makes the
rocks dance in the heat； and the herd children hear one kite
（never any more） whistling almost out of sight overhead； and they
know that if they died； or a cow died； that kite would sweep down；
and the next kite miles away would see him drop and follow； and
the next； and the next； and almost before they were dead there
would be a score of hungry kites come out of nowhere。 Then they
sleep and wake and sleep again； and weave little baskets of dried
grass and put grasshoppers in them； or catch two praying mantises
and make them fight； or string a necklace of red and black jungle
nuts； or watch a lizard basking on a rock； or a snake hunting a
frog near the wallows。 Then they sing long； long songs with odd
native quavers at the end of them； and the day seems longer than
most people's whole lives； and perhaps they make a mud castle with
mud figures of men and horses and buffaloes； and put reeds into
the men's hands； and pretend that they are kings and the figures
are their armies； or that they are gods to be worshiped。 Then
evening comes and the children call； and the buffaloes lumber up
out of the sticky mud with noises like gunshots going off one
after the other； and they all string across the gray plain back to
the twinkling village lights。
Day after day Mowgli would lead the buffaloes out to their
wallows； and day after day he would see Gray Brother's back a mile
and a half away across the plain （so he knew that Shere Khan had
not come back）； and day after day he would lie on the grass
listening to the noises round him； and dreaming of old days in the
jungle。 If Shere Khan had made a false step with his lame paw up
in the jungles by the Waingunga； Mowgli would have heard him in
those long； still mornings。
At last a day came when he did not see Gray Brother at the
signal place； and he laughed and headed the buffaloes for the
ravine by the dhk tree； which was all covered with golden…red
flowers。 There sat Gray Brother； every bristle on his back
lifted。
〃He has hidden for a month to throw thee off thy guard。 He
crossed the ranges last night with Tabaqui； hot…foot on thy
trail；〃 said the Wolf； panting。
Mowgli frowned。 〃I am not afraid of Shere Khan； but Tabaqui
is very cunning。〃
〃Have no fear；〃 said Gray Brother； licking his lips a little。
〃I met Tabaqui in the dawn。 Now he is telling all his wisdom to
the kites； but he told me everything before I broke his back。
Shere Khan's plan is to wait for thee at the village gate this
eveningfor thee and for no one else。 He is lying up now； in
the big dry ravine of the Waingunga。〃
〃Has he eaten today； or does he hunt empty？〃 said Mowgli； for
the answer meant life and death to him。
〃He killed at dawn；a pig；and he has drunk too。
Remember； Shere Khan could never fast； even for the sake of
revenge。〃
〃Oh！ Fool； fool！ What a cub's cub it is！ Eaten and drunk
too； and he thinks that I shall wait till he has slept！ Now；
where does he lie up？ If there were but ten of us we might pull
him down as he lies。 These buffaloes will not charge unless they
wind him； and I cannot speak their language。 Can we get behind
his track so that they may smell it？〃
〃He swam far down the Waingunga to cut that off；〃 said Gray
Brother。
〃Tabaqui told him that； I know。 He would never have thought
of it alone。〃 Mowgli stood with his finger in his mouth；
thinking。 〃The big ravine of the Waingunga。 That opens out on
the plain not half a mile from here。 I can take the herd round
through the jungle to the head of the ravine and then sweep down
but he would slink out at the foot。 We must block that end。
Gray Brother； canst thou cut the herd in two for me？〃
〃Not I； perhapsbut I have brought a wise helper。〃 Gray
Brother trotted off and dropped into a hole。 Then there lifted up
a huge gray head that Mowgli knew well； and the hot air was filled
with the most desolate cry of all the junglethe hunting howl
of a wolf at midday。
〃Akela！ Akela！〃 said Mowgli； clapping his hands。 〃I might
have known that thou wouldst not forget me。 We have a big work in
hand。 Cut the herd in two； Akela。 Keep the cows and calves
together； and the bulls and the plow buffaloes by themselves。〃
The two wolves ran； ladies'…chain fashion； in and out of the
herd； which snorted and threw up its head； and separated into two
clumps。 In one； the cow…buffaloes stood with their calves in the
center； and glared and pawed； ready； if a wolf would only stay
still； to charge down and trample the life out of him。 In the
other； the bulls and the young bulls snorted and stamped； but
though they looked more imposing they were much less dangerous；
for they had no calves to protect。 No six men could have divided
the herd so neatly。
〃What orders！〃 panted Akela。 〃They are trying to join again。〃
Mowgli slipped on to Rama's back。 〃Drive the bulls away to
the left； Akela。 Gray Brother； when we are gone； hold the cows
together； and drive them into the foot of the ravine。〃
〃How far？〃 said Gray Brother； panting and snapping。
〃Till the sides are higher than Shere Khan can jump；〃 shouted
Mowgli。 〃Keep them there till we come down。〃 The bulls swept off
as Akela bayed； and Gray Brother stopped in front of the cows。
They charged down on him； and he ran just before them to the foot
of the ravine； as Akela drove the bulls far to the left。
〃Well done！ Another charge and they are fairly started。
Careful； nowcareful； Akela。 A snap too much and the bulls
will charge。 Hujah！ This is wilder work than driving black…buck。
Didst thou think these creatures could move so swiftly？〃 Mowgli
called。
〃I havehave hunted these too in my time；〃 gasped Akela in
the dust。 〃Shall I turn them into the jungle？〃
〃Ay！ Turn。 Swiftly turn them！ Rama is mad with rage。 Oh；
if I could only tell him what I need of him to…day。〃
The bulls were turned； to the right this time； and crashed
into the standing thicket。 The other herd children； watching with
the cattle half a mile away； hurried to the village as fast as
their legs could carry them； crying that the buffaloes had gone
mad and run away。
But Mowgli's plan was simple enough。 All he wanted to do was
to make a big circle uphill and get at the head of the ravine； and
then take the bulls down i