The Jungle Book

By Rudyard Kipling

Mowgli's Brothers

It was a warm night. Father Wolf woke up. He stretched his legs. Mother Wolf lay near her babies. The moon shone into their cave.

"It is time to hunt," said Father Wolf.

Then a little jackal came in. A jackal is like a small wild dog. His name was Tabaqui. Wolves did not like Tabaqui. He made trouble. He told tales. But wolves were also a bit scared of him. Sometimes jackals go mad and bite everything.

"May I come in?" asked Tabaqui.

"Come in," said Father Wolf. "But we have no food."

Tabaqui found an old bone. He was happy with that. Then he said something mean.

"Shere Khan is coming here to hunt," said Tabaqui.

Shere Khan was a big tiger. He lived far away by a river.

"He has no right to hunt here!" said Father Wolf. He was angry.

"Shere Khan is lame," said Mother Wolf. "That is why he only kills cows. Now people are angry at him. He will bring trouble to us too."

Tabaqui left. Then they heard Shere Khan close by. He was hunting. But he was hunting a man! That was against the Law of the Jungle. Animals were not allowed to hunt people. If they did, men would come with fire and guns. Then all the animals would suffer.

Shere Khan jumped — and missed! He hurt his feet on a hot campfire. He howled in pain.

Then something rustled in the bushes. Father Wolf got ready to jump. But it was not food. It was a baby! A little human baby. He was naked. He smiled up at Father Wolf.

"A man's cub!" said Father Wolf.

Father Wolf carried the baby very gently. He did not hurt him at all.

"Bring him here," said Mother Wolf.

The baby crawled in with the wolf cubs. He was not afraid at all.

"He is so small," said Mother Wolf. "But so brave!"

Just then, Shere Khan came to the cave. He was looking for the baby.

"Give me the man's cub," said Shere Khan. "He is mine."

But Shere Khan was too big. He could not fit into the cave.

"The wolves are free," said Father Wolf. "We do not obey a tiger."

Mother Wolf jumped up. Her eyes were fierce.

"The man's cub is mine!" she said. "I name him Mowgli. He will live with the Pack. A pack is a wolf family group. One day, Mowgli will hunt you, Shere Khan!"

Shere Khan backed away, growling.

"We will see what the Pack says about this," he warned. Then he left.

Father Wolf looked at Mother Wolf.

"The Pack must see this baby," he said. "That is our law."

The Law of the Jungle said every wolf must bring new cubs to the Pack Council. A council is a big meeting. It happens once a month, at full moon. All the wolves come to see the new babies. After that, the cubs are safe. No wolf may hurt them.

So Father Wolf waited. When the cubs were old enough, he brought them — and Mowgli too — to the Council Rock. This was a hilltop full of big stones. A hundred wolves could hide there.

Akela was the leader of the Pack. He was old, gray, and wise. He lay on top of a big rock. Below him sat all the other wolves, big and small, old and young.