What did you say, Mowgli?’ asked Baloo, surprised. ‘Have you been with the Bandar-log, the Monkey-People?’
Mowgli could hear that Baloo was angry, and he saw too that Bagheera’s green eyes were cold and hard.
‘When Baloo hurt my head,’ said Mowgli, ‘I went away, and the grey monkeys came down from the trees and talked to me. They were kind to me and gave me nice things to eat. Then they took me up into the trees. They said that I was their brother, and they wanted me to be their leader one day. Why have you never told me about the Monkey-People? Bad old Baloo! They play all day and don’t do lessons, and I will play with them again.’