“ Then the White Hood spoke the thing which is?” Mowgli asked quickly.
“ I was born in the King’s cages at Oodeypore, and it is in my stomach that I know some little of Man. Very many men would kill thrice in a night for the sake of that one big red stone alone.”
“ But the stone makes it heavy to the hand. My little bright knife is better; and—see! the red stone is not good to eat. Then WHY would they kill?”
“ Mowgli, go thou and sleep. Thou hast lived among men, and——”
“ I remember. Men kill because they are not hunting;—for idleness and pleasure. Wake again, Bagheera. For what use was this thorn-pointed thing made?”
Bagheera half opened his eyes—he was very sleepy—with a malicious twinkle.
“ It was made by men to thrust into the head of the sons of Hathi, so that the bl
