‘Look at me,’ said Bagheera, and Mowgli looked at him hard between the eyes. The big black cat turned his head away quickly. ‘That is why,’ he said. ‘Not even I can look in your eyes. That is why they want to kill you. You are clever. You are a man.’
‘I did not know these things,’ said Mowgli quietly.
‘Now listen. The day will soon come when Akela cannot kill his deer in the hunt. Then at next meeting of the Pack the younger wolves will be against Akela and against you. When that time comes, go to the men’s house in the village and take some of their Red Flower. That will be stronger friend to you than I or Baloo.’