Now , the Law of the Jungle lays down that if there is any dispute as to the right of a cub to be accepted by the Pack , he must be spoken for by at least two members of the Pack who are not his father and mother . `` Who speaks for this cub ? '' said Akela . `` Among the Free People who speaks ? '' There was no answer and Mother Wolf got ready for what she knew would be her last fight , if things came to fighting . Then the only other creature who is allowed at the Pack Council -- Baloo , the sleepy brown bear who teaches the wolf cubs the Law of the Jungle : old Baloo , who can come and go where he pleases because he eats only nuts and roots and honey -- rose upon his hind quarters and grunted . `` The man 's cub -- the man 's cub ? '' he said . `` I speak for the man 's cub . There is no harm in a man 's cub . I have no gift of words , but I speak the truth . Let him run with the Pack , and be entered with the others . I myself will teach him . '' `` We need yet another , '' said Akela . `` Baloo has spoken , and he is our teacher for the young cubs . Who speaks besides Baloo ? '' A black shadow dropped down into the circle . It was Bagheera the Black Panther , inky black all over , but with the panther markings showing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk . Everybody knew Bagheera , and nobody cared to cross his path ; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui , as bold as the wild buffalo , and as reckless as the wounded elephant . But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree , and a skin softer than down .
`` O Akela , and ye the Free People , '' he purred , `` I have no right in your assembly , but the Law XXXXX the Jungle says that if there is a doubt which is not a killing matter in regard to a new cub , the life of that cub may be bought at a price .
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