He crept along outside the wall till he came to Messua 's hut , and looked through the window into the room . There lay Messua , gagged , and bound hand and foot , breathing hard , and groaning : her husband was tied to the gaily-painted bedstead . The door of the hut that opened into the street was shut fast , and three or four people were sitting with their backs to it . Mowgli knew the manners and customs of the villagers very fairly . He argued that so long as they could eat , and talk , and smoke , they would not do anything else ; but as soon as they had fed they would begin to be dangerous . Buldeo would be coming in before long , and if his escort had done its duty , Buldeo would have a very interesting tale to tell . So he went in through the window , and , stooping over the man and the woman , cut their thongs , pulling out the gags , and looked round the hut for some milk . Messua was half wild with pain and fear -LRB- she had been beaten and stoned all the morning -RRB- , and Mowgli put his hand over her mouth just in time to stop a scream . Her husband was only bewildered and angry , and sat picking dust and things out of his torn beard . `` I knew -- I knew he would come , '' Messua sobbed at last . `` Now do I KNOW that he is my son ! '' and she hugged Mowgli to her heart . Up to that time Mowgli had been perfectly steady , but now he began to tremble all over , and that surprised him immensely . `` Why are these thongs ? Why have they tied thee ? '' he asked , after a pause . `` To be put to the death for making a son of thee -- what else ? '' said the man sullenly . `` Look ! I bleed . ''
Messua said nothing , but it was at her wounds that XXXXX looked , and they heard him grit his teeth when he saw the blood .
Buldeo Messua Mowgli bedstead heart manners morning son street thongs