`` I am an eater of turtles -- a fisher of frogs . Ngaayah ! Would I could get good from chewing branches ! '' `` WE wish so , very greatly , '' bleated a young fawn , who had only been born that spring , and did not at all like it . Wretched as the Jungle People were , even Hathi could not help chuckling ; while Mowgli , lying on his elbows in the warm water , laughed aloud , and beat up the scum with his feet . `` Well spoken , little bud-horn , '' Bagheera purred . `` When the Truce ends that shall be remembered in thy favour , '' and he looked keenly through the darkness to make sure of recognising the fawn again . Gradually the talking spread up and down the drinking-places . One could hear the scuffling , snorting pig asking for more room ; the buffaloes grunting among themselves as they lurched out across the sand-bars , and the deer telling pitiful stories of their long foot-sore wanderings in quest of food . Now and again they asked some question of the Eaters of Flesh across the river , but all the news was bad , and the roaring hot wind of the Jungle came and went between the rocks and the rattling branches , and scattered twigs , and dust on the water . `` The men-folk , too , they die beside their ploughs , '' said a young sambhur . `` I passed three between sunset and night . They lay still , and their Bullocks with them . We also shall lie still in a little . '' `` The river has fallen since last night , '' said Baloo . `` O Hathi , hast thou ever seen the like of this drought ? '' `` It will pass , it will pass , '' said Hathi , squirting water along his back and sides . `` We have one here that can not endure long , '' said Baloo ; and he looked toward the boy he loved . `` I ? '' said Mowgli indignantly , sitting up in the water .
`` I have no long fur to cover my bones , but -- but if THY hide were taken off , Baloo -- '' XXXXX shook all over at the idea , and Baloo said severely : `` Man-cub , that is not seemly to tell a Teacher of the Law .
Bagheera Flesh Hathi Ngaayah bud-horn drinking-places eater sand-bars scuffling scum