Mother Wolf told him once or twice that Shere Khan was not a creature to be trusted , and that some day he must kill Shere Khan . But though a young wolf would have remembered that advice every hour , Mowgli forgot it because he was only a boy -- though he would have called himself a wolf if he had been able to speak in any human tongue . Shere Khan was always crossing his path in the jungle , for as Akela grew older and feebler the lame tiger had come to be great friends with the younger wolves of the Pack , who followed him for scraps , a thing Akela would never have allowed if he had dared to push his authority to the proper bounds . Then Shere Khan would flatter them and wonder that such fine young hunters were content to be led by a dying wolf and a man 's cub . `` They tell me , '' Shere Khan would say , `` that at Council ye dare not look him between the eyes . '' And the young wolves would growl and bristle . Bagheera , who had eyes and ears everywhere , knew something of this , and once or twice he told Mowgli in so many words that Shere Khan would kill him some day . Mowgli would laugh and answer : `` I have the Pack and I have thee ; and Baloo , though he is so lazy , might strike a blow or two for my sake . Why should I be afraid ? '' It was one very warm day that a new notion came to Bagheera -- born of something that he had heard . Perhaps Ikki the Porcupine had told him ; but he said to Mowgli when they were deep in the jungle , as the boy lay with his head on Bagheera 's beautiful black skin , `` Little Brother , how often have I told thee that Shere Khan is thy enemy ? '' `` As many times as there are nuts on that palm , '' said Mowgli , who , naturally , could not count . `` What of it ? I am sleepy , Bagheera , and Shere Khan is all long tail and loud talk -- like Mao , the Peacock . '' `` But this is no time for sleeping . Baloo knows it ; I know it ; the Pack know it ; and even the foolish , foolish deer know . Tabaqui has told thee too . '' `` Ho ! ho ! '' said Mowgli .
`` Tabaqui came XXXXX me not long ago with some rude talk that I was a naked man 's cub and not fit to dig pig-nuts .
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