Once Mowgli passed Akela , a dhole on either flank , and his all but toothless jaws closed over the loins of a third ; and once he saw Phao , his teeth set in the throat of a dhole , tugging the unwilling beast forward till the yearlings could finish him . But the bulk of the fight was blind flurry and smother in the dark ; hit , trip , and tumble , yelp , groan , and worry-worry-worry , round him and behind him and above him . As the night wore on , the quick , giddy-go-round motion increased . The dholes were cowed and afraid to attack the stronger wolves , but did not yet dare to run away . Mowgli felt that the end was coming soon , and contented himself with striking merely to cripple . The yearlings were growing bolder ; there was time now and again to breathe , and pass a word to a friend , and the mere flicker of the knife would sometimes turn a dog aside . `` The meat is very near the bone , '' Gray Brother yelled . He was bleeding from a score of flesh-wounds . `` But the bone is yet to be cracked , '' said Mowgli . `` Eowawa ! THUS do we do in the Jungle ! '' The red blade ran like a flame along the side of a dhole whose hind-quarters were hidden by the weight of a clinging wolf . `` My kill ! '' snorted the wolf through his wrinkled nostrils . `` Leave him to me . '' `` Is thy stomach still empty , Outlier ? '' said Mowgli . Won-tolla was fearfully punished , but his grip had paralysed the dhole , who could not turn round and reach him . `` By the Bull that bought me , '' said Mowgli , with a bitter laugh , `` it is the tailless one ! '' And indeed it was the big bay-coloured leader .
`` It is not wise to kill cubs and lahinis , '' XXXXX went on philosophically , wiping the blood out of his eyes , `` unless one has also killed the Outlier ; and it is in my stomach that this Won-tolla kills thee . ''
Brother Bull Mowgli Outlier Phao Won-tolla dhole dholes third yearlings