`` Son , '' she said at last , -- her eyes were full of pride , -- `` have any told thee that thou art beautiful beyond all men ? '' `` Hah ? '' said Mowgli , for naturally he had never heard anything of the kind . Messua laughed softly and happily . The look in his face was enough for her . `` I am the first , then ? It is right , though it comes seldom , that a mother should tell her son these good things . Thou art very beautiful . Never have I looked upon such a man . '' Mowgli twisted his head and tried to see over his own hard shoulder , and Messua laughed again so long that Mowgli , not knowing why , was forced to laugh with her , and the child ran from one to the other , laughing too . `` Nay , thou must not mock thy brother , '' said Messua , catching him to her breast . `` When thou art one-half as fair we will marry thee to the youngest daughter of a king , and thou shalt ride great elephants . '' Mowgli could not understand one word in three of the talk here ; the warm milk was taking effect on him after his long run , so he curled up and in a minute was deep asleep , and Messua put the hair back from his eyes , threw a cloth over him , and was happy . Jungle-fashion , he slept out the rest of that night and all the next day ; for his instincts , which never wholly slept , warned him there was nothing to fear . He waked at last with a bound that shook the hut , for the cloth over his face made him dream of traps ; and there he stood , his hand on his knife , the sleep all heavy in his rolling eyes , ready for any fight . Messua laughed , and set the evening meal before him . There were only a few coarse cakes baked over the smoky fire , some rice , and a lump of sour preserved tamarinds -- just enough to go on with till he could get to his evening kill . The smell of the dew in the marshes made him hungry and restless . He wanted to finish his spring running , but the child insisted on sitting in his arms , and Messua would have it that his long , blue-black hair must be combed out . So she sang , as she combed , foolish little baby-songs , now calling Mowgli her son , and now begging him to give some of his jungle power to the child .
The hut door was closed , but XXXXX heard a sound he knew well , and saw Messua 's jaw drop with horror as a great gray paw came under the bottom of the door , and Gray Brother outside whined a muffled and penitent whine of anxiety and fear .
Hah Jungle-fashion Mowgli baby-songs evening fire minute night right tamarinds