said the panther . `` Those eight shod feet have not gone far . '' No more was said for fully an hour , as they worked up the broad trail of the four men with shod feet . It was clear , hot daylight now , and Bagheera said , `` I smell smoke . '' Men are always more ready to eat than to run , Mowgli answered , trotting in and out between the low scrub bushes of the new Jungle they were exploring . Bagheera , a little to his left , made an indescribable noise in his throat . `` Here is one that has done with feeding , '' said he . A tumbled bundle of gay-coloured clothes lay under a bush , and round it was some spilt flour . `` That was done by the bamboo again , '' said Mowgli . `` See ! that white dust is what men eat . They have taken the kill from this one , -- he carried their food , -- and given him for a kill to Chil , the Kite . '' `` It is the third , '' said Bagheera . `` I will go with new , big frogs to the Father of Cobras , and feed him fat , '' said Mowgli to himself . `` The drinker of elephant 's blood is Death himself -- but still I do not understand ! '' `` Follow ! '' said Bagheera . They had not gone half a mile farther when they heard Ko , the Crow , singing the death-song in the top of a tamarisk under whose shade three men were lying . A half-dead fire smoked in the centre of the circle , under an iron plate which held a blackened and burned cake of unleavened bread . Close to the fire , and blazing in the sunshine , lay the ruby-and-turquoise ankus .
`` The thing works quickly ; all ends here , '' said XXXXX .
Bagheera Chil Cobras bamboo centre daylight death-song hour tamarisk third