棒子文学网>指向死亡的微灯 > 老虎老虎 TigerTiger（第3页）
老虎老虎 TigerTiger（第3页）
“Whocalls？”saidShereKhan，andasplendidpeacockflutteredupoutoftheravinesg。
“I，Mowgli。Cattlethief，itistimetoetothecilRo-hurrythemdown，Akela！Down，Rama，down！”
Theherdpausedforaninstantattheedgeoftheslope，butAkelagavetohefullhuheypitchedoveroher，justassteamersshootrapids，thesandainguproundthem。OherewasoppiheywerefairlyiheravineRamawindedShereKhanandbellowed。
“Ha！Ha！”saidMowgli，onhisbaowthoukhetorrentofblaiaringeyeswhirleddowntheraviasbodowninfloodtime;theweakerbuffaloesbeiothesidesoftheravihthecreepers。Theykhebusinesswasbeforethem-theterriblechargeofthebuffalainstwhiotigerhopetostand。ShereKhahuheirhoofs，pickedhimselfup，aheravine，lookingfromsidetosideforsomewayofescape，butthewallsoftheraviaoholdohhisdinnerandhisdrink，willingtodoanythihanfight。Theherdsplashedthroughthepoolhehadjustleft，bellowingtillthenarrliheardanansweringbellowfromthefootoftheravine，sawShereKhaigerkcametotheworstitwasbettertomeetthebullsthahtheirdthenRamatripped，stumbled，aonagaihingsoft，and，withthebullsathisheels，crashedfulliherherd，whiletheweakerbuffaloeswereliftedofftheirfeetbytheshoeeting。Thatchargecarriedbothherdsoutintotheplain，gandstampingandsn。Mowgliwatchedhistime，andslippedoffRama’snegabhtahhisstick。
“Quick，Akela！Breakthemup。Scatterthem，ortheywillbefightiher。Drivethemaway，Akela。Hai，Rama！Hai，hai，hai！My。Softlynow，softly！Itisallover。”
AkelaandGrayBrotherrantthebuffaloes’legs，andthoughtheherdwheeledoeuptheravineagain，MowglimaurnRama，ahersfollowedhimtothe>
ShereKhanneededrampling。Hewasdead，aeswerealready。
“Brothers，thatwasadog’sdeath，”saidMowgli，feelingfortheknifehealwaysasheathrouhathelivedwithmen。“Buthewouldneverhaveshownfight。Hishidewilllookwellontheustgettoworkswiftly。”
AboytrainedamongmenwouldneverhavedreamedofskiigeraloMowglikhananyoneelsehowananimal’sskinisfittedon，andhowitbetakenoff。Butitwashardwork，andMowglislashedandtruntedforanhour，whilethewolveslolledues，orcamefgedasheorderedthem。Presentlyahandfellonhisshoulder，andlookinguphesawBuldeowiththeTowermusket。Thehadtoldthevillageaboutthebuffalostampede，aoutangrily，onlytooanxilifornottakiercareoftheherd。Thewolvesdroppedoutofsightassoohemaning。
“Whatisthisfolly？”saidBuldeoangrily。“Tothinkthatthouatiger！Wheredidthebuffaloeskillhim？ItistheLameTigertoo，andthereisahundredrupeesonhishead。illoverlookthylettingtheherdrunoff，andperhapsIwillgivetheeoherupeesoftherewardwheheskintoKhanhiwara。”HefumbledinhiswaistclothforflintaoopeddowntosingeShereKhaersalwayssiiger’swhiskerstopreventhisghostfromhauntingthem。
“Hum！”saidMowgli，halftohimselfasherippedbacktheskinofaforepaw。“SothouwilttakethehidetoKhanhiwarafortheresgivemeoisinmymindthatIheskinformyownuse。Heh！Oldmahatfire！”
“Whattalkisthistotheterofthevillage？Thyludthestupidityofthybuffaloeshavehelpedtheetothiskill。Thetigerhasjustfed，orhewouldhavegoymilesbythistime。Thouotevenskinhimproperly，littlebeggarbrat，andforsoothI，Buldeo，mustbetoldnottosingehiswhiskers。Mowgli，Iwillheeoneannaofthereward，butbeatihecarcass！”
“BytheBullthatboughtme，”saidMoastryiheshoulder，“mustIstaybabblingtoanoldapeallnoon？Here，Akela，thismanplaguesme。”
Buldeo，whowasstillstoopingoverShereKhan’shead，foundhimselfsprawlingonthegrass，withagraywolfstandingoverhim，entonskinningasthoughhewerealoneinallIndia。
“Yes，”hesaid，betweehetherright，Buldeo。Thouwiltnevergivemeoneannaofthereward。Thereisanoldwarbetweenthislametigerandmyself-averyoldwar，and-Ihavewon。”
TodoBuldeojustice，ifhehadbeentenyearsyoungerhewouldhavetakenhiscewithAkelahadhemetthewolfinthewoods，butawolfwhoobeyedtheordersofthisboyrivatewarswithmaigerswasnotaal。Itwassicoftheworstkind，thoughtBuldeo，andhewoheamuletroundhisneckwouldprotecthim。Helayasstillasstill，expegeverymioseeMowgliturnioo。
“Maharaj！GreatKilastinahuskywhisper。
“Yes，”saidMowgli，withhishead，galittle。
“Iamanoldman。Ididnotknowthatthouwastanythihanaherdsboy。MayIriseupandgoaway，orwillthyservaopieces？”
“Go，ahthee。Only，aimedohmygame。Lethimgo，Akela。”
Buldeohobbledawaytothevillageasfastashecould，lookingbackoverhisshoulderincaseMowglishouldtosomethingterrible。Whehevillagehetoldataleofmagitamadethepriestlrave。
Moithhiswork，butitwaswilightbeforeheandthewolveshaddrawgayskihebody。
“hidethisahebuffaloeshome！Helpmetoherdthem，Akela。”
Theherdrouhemistytwilight，aheygothevillageMowglisawlights，ahedbellsiempleblowingandbanging。Halfthevillageseemedtobewaitingforhimbythegate。“ThatisbecauseIhavekilledShereKhaohimself。Butashowerofstoledabouthisears，andthevillagersshouted:“Sorcerer！Wledemon！Goaway！Gethencequicklyorthepriestwillturoawolfagain。Shoot，Buldeo，shoot！”
&owermusketwentoffwithabang，andayoungbuffalobello>
“Moresorcery！”shoutedthevillagers。“Hebullets。Buldeo，thatwasthybuffalo。”
“Nowwhatisthis？”saidMowgli，bewildered，asthestohicker。
&uhesebrothersofthine，”saidAkela，sittingdowisi，ifbulletsmeananything，theywouldcasttheeout。”
“Wolf！Wolf’scub！Goaway！”shoutedthepriest，rigofthesacredtulsiplant。
“Again？LasttimeitwasbecauseIwasaman。ThistimeitisbecauseIamawolf。Letusgo，Akela。”
Awoman-itwasMessua-ranacrosstotheherd，andyson，mysohouartasorcererwhohimselfiwill。Idogoawayortheywillkillthee。Buldeosaysthouartawizard，butIknowthouhastavehoo’sdeath。”
“eback，Messua！”shoutedtheeback，orwewillstohee。”
Mowglilaughedalittleshlylaugh，forastohimih。“Ruhisisohefoolishtalestheytellureeatdusk。Ihaveatleastpaidforthyson’slife。Farewell;andrunquickly，forIshallsendtheherdilythantheirbrickbats。Iamnowizard，Messua。Farewell！”
“Now，oncemore，Akela，”hecried。“Brihebuffaloeswereaogettothevillage。TheyhardlyneededAkela’syell，butchargedthroughthegatelikeawhirlwihecrhta。
&！”shoutedMowglisfully。“ItmaybethatIhavestolehem。Keept，forIwilldnomore。Fareyouwell，en，andthaIdohmywolvesandhuntyouupanddownyourstreet。”
&urnedonhisheelandiththeLoneWolf，andashelookedupatthestarshefelthappy。“Nomoresleepingintrapsforme，Akela。LetusgetShereKhan’sskinandgoaillnothurtthevillage，forMessuawaskindtome。”
&hemooheplain，makingitlookallmilky，thehorrifiedvillagerssaithtwowolvesathisheelsandabundleoingacrossatthesteadywolf’strotthateatsupthelongmileslikefire。Thentheybaemplebellsahecheslouderthanever。AndMessuadBuldeoembroideredthestoryofhisadvehejuillheendedbysayingthatAkelastooduponhishialkedlikeaman。
ThemoonwasjustgoingdogliawowolvescametothehillofthecilRodtheystoppedatMother>
