‘Good,’ said Mowgli. He looked at the frightened wolves. ‘I go from you to my people – the world of men. But first . . . ’ and Mowgli went to Shere Khan. ‘This killer of cows wanted to kill me. This is what men do to killers of cows,’ and he hit Shere Khan on the head with the burning stick. The tiger was very frightened.
‘Go now,’ said Mowgli to Shere Khan. ‘The next time I come to this rock, it will be with your dead body. I tell you this also, my brothers, you will not kill Akela – because I do not want that. Akela is free to live.’