`` How ? '' `` Because he came first , running for his life , leaping ere the Little People were aware , and was in the river when they gathered to kill . The Pack , following , was altogether lost under the weight of the Little People . '' `` The buck lived ? '' Mowgli repeated slowly . `` At least he did not die THEN , though none waited his coming down with a strong body to hold him safe against the water , as a certain old fat , deaf , yellow Flathead would wait for a Manling -- yea , though there were all the dholes of the Dekkan on his trail . What is in thy stomach ? '' Kaa 's head was close to Mowgli 's ear ; and it was a little time before the boy answered . `` It is to pull the very whiskers of Death , but -- Kaa , thou art , indeed , the wisest of all the Jungle . '' `` So many have said . Look now , if the dhole follow thee -- '' `` As surely they will follow . Ho ! ho ! I have many little thorns under my tongue to prick into their hides . '' `` If they follow thee hot and blind , looking only at thy shoulders , those who do not die up above will take water either here or lower down , for the Little People will rise up and cover them . Now the Waingunga is hungry water , and they will have no Kaa to hold them , but will go down , such as live , to the shallows by the Seeonee Lairs , and there thy Pack may meet them by the throat . '' `` Ahai ! Eowawa ! Better could not be till the Rains fall in the dry season . There is now only the little matter of the run and the leap .
I will make me known to the XXXXX , so that they shall follow me very closely . ''
Ahai Flathead Manling Mowgli People Waingunga dhole dholes fall shallows