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to make a big circle uphill and get at the head of the ravine； and
then take the bulls down it and catch Shere Khan between the bulls
and the cows； for he knew that after a meal and a full drink Shere
Khan would not be in any condition to fight or to clamber up the
sides of the ravine。 He was soothing the buffaloes now by voice；
and Akela had dropped far to the rear； only whimpering once or
twice to hurry the rear…guard。 It was a long； long circle； for
they did not wish to get too near the ravine and give Shere Khan
warning。 At last Mowgli rounded up the bewildered herd at the
head of the ravine on a grassy patch that sloped steeply down to
the ravine itself。 From that height you could see across the tops
of the trees down to the plain below； but what Mowgli looked at
was the sides of the ravine； and he saw with a great deal of
satisfaction that they ran nearly straight up and down； while the
vines and creepers that hung over them would give no foothold to a
tiger who wanted to get out。
〃Let them breathe； Akela；〃 he said； holding up his hand。
〃They have not winded him yet。 Let them breathe。 I must tell
Shere Khan who comes。 We have him in the trap。〃
He put his hands to his mouth and shouted down the ravine
it was almost like shouting down a tunneland the echoes jumped
from rock to rock。
After a long time there came back the drawling； sleepy snarl
of a full…fed tiger just wakened。
〃Who calls？〃 said Shere Khan； and a splendid peacock fluttered
up out of the ravine screeching。
〃I； Mowgli。 Cattle thief； it is time to come to the Council
Rock！ Downhurry them down； Akela！ Down； Rama； down！〃
The herd paused for an instant at the edge of the slope； but
Akela gave tongue in the full hunting…yell； and they pitched over
one after the other； just as steamers shoot rapids； the sand and
stones spurting up round them。 Once started； there was no chance
of stopping； and before they were fairly in the bed of the ravine
Rama winded Shere Khan and bellowed。
〃Ha！ Ha！〃 said Mowgli； on his back。 〃Now thou knowest！〃 and
the torrent of black horns； foaming muzzles； and staring eyes
whirled down the ravine just as boulders go down in floodtime； the
weaker buffaloes being shouldered out to the sides of the ravine
where they tore through the creepers。 They knew what the business
was before themthe terrible charge of the buffalo herd against
which no tiger can hope to stand。 Shere Khan heard the thunder of
their hoofs； picked himself up； and lumbered down the ravine；
looking from side to side for some way of escape； but the walls of
the ravine were straight and he had to hold on； heavy with his
dinner and his drink； willing to do anything rather than fight。
The herd splashed through the pool he had just left； bellowing
till the narrow cut rang。 Mowgli heard an answering bellow from
the foot of the ravine； saw Shere Khan turn （the tiger knew if the
worst came to the worst it was better to meet the bulls than the
cows with their calves）； and then Rama tripped； stumbled； and went
on again over something soft； and； with the bulls at his heels；
crashed full into the other herd； while the weaker buffaloes were
lifted clean off their feet by the shock of the meeting。 That
charge carried both herds out into the plain； goring and stamping
and snorting。 Mowgli watched his time； and slipped off Rama's
neck； laying about him right and left with his stick。
〃Quick； Akela！ Break them up。 Scatter them； or they will be
fighting one another。 Drive them away； Akela。 Hai； Rama！ Hai；
hai； hai！ my children。 Softly now； softly！ It is all over。〃
Akela and Gray Brother ran to and fro nipping the buffaloes'
legs； and though the herd wheeled once to charge up the ravine
again； Mowgli managed to turn Rama； and the others followed him to
the wallows。
Shere Khan needed no more trampling。 He was dead； and the
kites were coming for him already。
〃Brothers； that was a dog's death；〃 said Mowgli； feeling for
the knife he always carried in a sheath round his neck now that he
lived with men。 〃But he would never have shown fight。 His hide
will look well on the Council Rock。 We must get to work swiftly。〃
A boy trained among men would never have dreamed of skinning a
ten…foot tiger alone； but Mowgli knew better than anyone else how
an animal's skin is fitted on； and how it can be taken off。 But
it was hard work； and Mowgli slashed and tore and grunted for an
hour； while the wolves lolled out their tongues； or came forward
and tugged as he ordered them。 Presently a hand fell on his
shoulder； and looking up he saw Buldeo with the Tower musket。 The
children had told the village about the buffalo stampede； and
Buldeo went out angrily； only too anxious to correct Mowgli for
not taking better care of the herd。 The wolves dropped out of
sight as soon as they saw the man coming。
〃What is this folly？〃 said Buldeo angrily。 〃To think that
thou canst skin a tiger！ Where did the buffaloes kill him？ It is
the Lame Tiger too； and there is a hundred rupees on his head。
Well； well； we will overlook thy letting the herd run off； and
perhaps I will give thee one of the rupees of the reward when I
have taken the skin to Khanhiwara。〃 He fumbled in his waist cloth
for flint and steel； and stooped down to singe Shere Khan's
whiskers。 Most native hunters always singe a tiger's whiskers to
prevent his ghost from haunting them。
〃Hum！〃 said Mowgli； half to himself as he ripped back the skin
of a forepaw。 〃So thou wilt take the hide to Khanhiwara for the
reward； and perhaps give me one rupee？ Now it is in my mind that
I need the skin for my own use。 Heh！ Old man； take away that
fire！〃
〃What talk is this to the chief hunter of the village？ Thy
luck and the stupidity of thy buffaloes have helped thee to this
kill。 The tiger has just fed； or he would have gone twenty miles
by this time。 Thou canst not even skin him properly； little
beggar brat； and forsooth I； Buldeo； must be told not to singe his
whiskers。 Mowgli； I will not give thee one anna of the reward；
but only a very big beating。 Leave the carcass！〃
〃By the Bull that bought me；〃 said Mowgli； who was trying to
get at the shoulder； 〃must I stay babbling to an old ape all noon？
Here； Akela； this man plagues me。〃
Buldeo； who was still stooping over Shere Khan's head； found
himself sprawling on the grass； with a gray wolf standing over
him； while Mowgli went on skinning as though he were alone in all
India。
〃Ye…es；〃 he said； between his teeth。 〃Thou art altogether
right； Buldeo。 Thou wilt never give me one anna of the reward。
There is an old war between this lame tiger and myselfa very
old war； andI have won。〃
To do Buldeo justice； if he had been ten years younger he
would have taken his chance with Akela had he met the wolf in the
woods； but a wolf who obeyed the orders of this boy who had
private wars with man…e