All that day Mowgli sat in the cave tending his fire pot and dipping dry branches into it to see how they looked . He found a branch that satisfied him , and in the evening when Tabaqui came to the cave and told him rudely enough that he was wanted at the Council Rock , he laughed till Tabaqui ran away . Then Mowgli went to the Council , still laughing . Akela the Lone Wolf lay by the side of his rock as a sign that the leadership of the Pack was open , and Shere Khan with his following of scrap-fed wolves walked to and fro openly being flattered . Bagheera lay close to Mowgli , and the fire pot was between Mowgli 's knees . When they were all gathered together , Shere Khan began to speak -- a thing he would never have dared to do when Akela was in his prime . `` He has no right , '' whispered Bagheera . `` Say so . He is a dog 's son . He will be frightened . '' Mowgli sprang to his feet . `` Free People , '' he cried , `` does Shere Khan lead the Pack ? What has a tiger to do with our leadership ? '' `` Seeing that the leadership is yet open , and being asked to speak -- '' Shere Khan began . `` By whom ? '' said Mowgli . `` Are we all jackals , to fawn on this cattle butcher ? The leadership of the Pack is with the Pack alone . '' There were yells of `` Silence , thou man 's cub ! '' `` Let him speak .
He has kept our Law '' ; and at last the seniors XXXXX the Pack thundered : `` Let the Dead Wolf speak . ''
as at between by in into of that till to