`` No , '' she said sorrowfully , `` those feet have never worn shoes , but thou art very like my Nathoo , and thou shalt be my son . '' Mowgli was uneasy , because he had never been under a roof before . But as he looked at the thatch , he saw that he could tear it out any time if he wanted to get away , and that the window had no fastenings . `` What is the good of a man , '' he said to himself at last , `` if he does not understand man 's talk ? Now I am as silly and dumb as a man would be with us in the jungle . I must speak their talk . '' It was not for fun that he had learned while he was with the wolves to imitate the challenge of bucks in the jungle and the grunt of the little wild pig . So , as soon as Messua pronounced a word Mowgli would imitate it almost perfectly , and before dark he had learned the names of many things in the hut . There was a difficulty at bedtime , because Mowgli would not sleep under anything that looked so like a panther trap as that hut , and when they shut the door he went through the window . `` Give him his will , '' said Messua 's husband . `` Remember he can never till now have slept on a bed . If he is indeed sent in the place of our son he will not run away . '' So Mowgli stretched himself in some long , clean grass at the edge of the field , but before he had closed his eyes a soft gray nose poked him under the chin . `` Phew ! '' said Gray Brother -LRB- he was the eldest of Mother Wolf 's cubs -RRB- . `` This is a poor reward for following thee twenty miles . Thou smellest of wood smoke and cattle -- altogether like a man already . Wake , Little Brother ; I bring news . '' `` Are all well in the jungle ? '' said Mowgli , hugging him .
`` All except the wolves that were burned XXXXX the Red Flower .
If at because before on that through till to with