Akela never raised his head from his paws, but went on with themonotonous cry: “Look well！” A muffled roar came up from behindthe rocks——the voice of Shere Khan crying: “The cub is mine. Givehim to me. What have the Free People to do with a man"s cub？” Akelanever even twitched his ears. All he said was: “Look well, O Wolves！
What have the Free People to do with the orders of any save the FreePeople？ Look well！”
There was a chorus of deep growls, and a young wolf in his fourthyear flung back Shere Khan"s question to Akela: “What have the FreePeople to do with a man"s cub？” Now, the Law of the Jungle laysdown that if there is any dispute as to the right of a cub to be accepted by the Pack, he must be spoken for by at least two members of the Pack whoare not his father and mother.
“Who speaks for this cub？” said Akela. “Among the FreePeople who speaks？” There was no answer and Mother Wolf got readyfor what she knew would be her last fight, if things came to fighting.
Then the only other creature who is allowed at the PackCouncil—— Baloo, the sleepy brown bear who teaches the wolf cubsthe Law of the Jungle: old Baloo, who can come and go where he pleasesbecause he eats only nuts and roots and honey——rose upon his hindquarters and grunted.
“The man"s cub——the man"s cub？” he said. “I speak for theman"s cub. There is no harm in a man"s cub. I have no gift of words,but I speak the truth. Let him run with the Pack, and be entered withthe others. I myself will teach him.”
“We need yet another, ” said Akela. “Baloo hasspoken, and he is our teacher for the young cubs. Whospeaks besides Baloo？”
A black shadow dropped down into the circle. It was Bagheerathe Black Panther, inky black all over, but with the panther markingsshowing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk. Everybodyknew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his path; for he was as cunningas Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the woundedelephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree,and a skin softer than down.
“O Akela, and you the Free People,” he purred, “I have noright in your assembly, but the Law of the Jungle says that if there is adoubt which is not a killing matter in regard to a new cub, the life of thatcub may be bought at a price. And the Law does not say who may or maynot pay that price. Am I right？”
“Good！ Good！” said the young wolves, who are alwayshungry.”Listen to Bagheera. The cub can be bought for a price. It is theLaw.”
“Knowing that I have no right to speak here, I ask your leave.”
“Speak then,” cried twenty voices.
“To kill a naked cub is shame. Besides, he may make better sportfor you when he is grown. Baloo has spoken in his behalf. Now to Baloo"sword I will add one bull, and a fat one, newly killed, not half a milefrom here, if you will accept the man"s cub according to the Law. Is itdifficult？”
There was a clamor of scores of voices, saying: “What matter？
He will die in the winter rains. He will scorch in the sun. What harmcan a naked frog do us？ Let him run with the Pack. Where is the bull,Bagheera？ Let him be accepted.” And then came Akela"s deep bay,crying: “Look well—— look well, O Wolves！”
Mowgli was still deeply interested in the pebbles, and he did notnotice when the wolves came and looked at him one by one. At last theyall went down the hill for the dead bull, and only Akela, Bagheera, Baloo,and Mowgli"s own wolves were left. Shere Khan roared still in the night,for he was very angry that Mowgli had not been handed over to him.
“Ay, roar well,” said Bagheera, under his whiskers, “for thetime will come when this naked thing will make you roar to anothertune, or I know nothing of man.”
“It was well done,” said Akela. “Men and their cubs are verywise. He may be a help in time.”
“Truly, a help in time of need; for none can hope to lead the Packforever,” said Bagheera.
Akela said nothing. He was thinking of the time that comes to everyleader of every pack when his strength goes from him and he gets feebler and feebler, till at last he is killed by the wolves and a new leader comes up——to be killed in his turn.
“Take him away,” he said to Father Wolf, “and train him as befits one of the Free People.”
And that is how Mowgli was entered into the Seeonee Wolf Pack for the price of a bull and on Baloo"s good word.
