Here , again , a man-trained man would have sunk overhead in three strides , but Mowgli 's feet had eyes in them , and they passed him from tussock to tussock and clump to quaking clump without asking help from the eyes in his head . He ran out to the middle of the swamp , disturbing the duck as he ran , and sat down on a moss-coated tree-trunk lapped in the black water . The marsh was awake all round him , for in the spring the Bird People sleep very lightly , and companies of them were coming or going the night through . But no one took any notice of Mowgli sitting among the tall reeds humming songs without words , and looking at the soles of his hard brown feet in case of neglected thorns . All his unhappiness seemed to have been left behind in his own Jungle , and he was just beginning a full-throat song when it came back again -- ten times worse than before . This time Mowgli was frightened . `` It is here also ! '' he said half aloud . `` It has followed me , '' and he looked over his shoulder to see whether the It were not standing behind him . `` There is no one here . '' The night noises of the marsh went on , but never a bird or beast spoke to him , and the new feeling of misery grew . `` I have surely eaten poison , '' he said in an awe-stricken voice . `` It must be that carelessly I have eaten poison , and my strength is going from me . I was afraid -- and yet it was not I that was afraid -- Mowgli was afraid when the two wolves fought . Akela , or even Phao , would have silenced them ; yet Mowgli was afraid . That is true sign I have eaten poison ... But what do they care in the Jungle ? They sing and howl and fight , and run in companies under the moon , and I -- Hai-mai ! -- I am dying in the marshes , of that poison which I have eaten . '' He was so sorry for himself that he nearly wept . `` And after , '' he went on , `` they will find me lying in the black water .
Nay , I will go back to my own Jungle , and I will die upon the Council Rock , and Bagheera , whom I love , if he is not screaming in the valley -- Bagheera , perhaps , may watch by what is XXXXX for a little , lest Chil use me as he used Akela . ''
Akela Hai-mai Mowgli Phao duck left moon night reeds tussock