said the man sullenly . `` Look ! I bleed . '' Messua said nothing , but it was at her wounds that Mowgli looked , and they heard him grit his teeth when he saw the blood . `` Whose work is this ? '' said he . `` There is a price to pay . '' `` The work of all the village . I was too rich . I had too many cattle . THEREFORE she and I are witches , because we gave thee shelter . '' `` I do not understand . Let Messua tell the tale . '' `` I gave thee milk , Nathoo ; dost thou remember ? '' Messua said timidly . `` Because thou wast my son , whom the tiger took , and because I loved thee very dearly . They said that I was thy mother , the mother of a devil , and therefore worthy of death . '' `` And what is a devil ? '' said Mowgli . `` Death I have seen . ''
The man looked up gloomily , but XXXXX laughed .
Messua Mowgli Nathoo devil mother price shelter son village wounds