For three months Mowgli learnt how to be like a man. He had to wear clothes, learn how to use money, and how to work in the fields. In the evenings he sat with the villagers under a great tree, while the men told stories about the jungle and the animals. Once, when Buldeo, the village hunter, told a story about tiger, Mowgli had to hide his face because he was laughing. At the end he said, ‘Buldeo’s stories are stupid. He knows nothing about the jungle.’
The villagers did not like this, and after that they sent Mowgli out every day with the other boys, to look after the herds of cows and buffaloes while they ate. Mowgli enjoyed this work, and usually went on alone, with a big group of cows and buffaloes.
One day he saw Grey Brother under a tree near the jungle. ‘Shere Khan has come back, but he is hiding for a while. Then he is comeing to kill you,’ said Grey Brother.
‘Very good,’ said Mowgli. ‘Tell me when he comes. Meet me at the river, by the big dhak-tree with golden flowers. I will watch for you there every day.’
Day after day Mowgli went out with the herds, but there was nobody at the dhak-tree. Then at last the day came when Grey Brother was waiting for him.
‘Shere Khan has waited for a month, and is hoping that you have now forgotten about him,’ said the wolf.
‘He’s going to wait for you at the village gate this evening. But now he is hiding in the big dry ravine of the Waingunga. I met Tabaqui this morning--’ here Grey Brother showed his teeth a little ‘—and before I broke his back, he told me all about Shere Khan’s plan.’
‘Has Shere Khan eaten today, or does he hunt empty?’ The answer was life or death for Mowgli.
‘He killed and ate this morning. And he has drunk, too.’
‘How stupid he is!’ said Mowgli. ‘Does he think that I shall wait until he has slept?’ He stood and thought for a while. ‘The ravine of Waingunga! I can take the buffaloes round to the top end and chase Shere Khan down the ravine. After a meal, he cannot fight or climb easily. But I need a big group of cows at the bottom end of the ravine, to stop him escaping. Then we will catch him between the buffaloes and the cows. Can you help me, Grey Brother?’
‘Not I alone,’ said Grey Brother, ‘but I have someone who will help me.’ And the big grey here of Akela came out from the trees.
‘Akela! Akela!’ said Mowgli. ‘I knew you would not forget me.’ The two wolves ran here and there among the other herd-boys, who were watching a long way away, ran back to the village with the news.
‘Keep the cows together, Grey Brother,’ called Mowgli. ‘Drive them into the bottom end of the ravine and keep them there until we come down. Akela, you and I will take the buffaloes round to the top.’
They drove the buffaloes round in a big circle uphill. It took a long time because they did not want Shere Khan to hear them. At last Mowgli was ready. He stopped and shouted down the ravine.
‘Shere Khan! It is I, Mowgli. It is time for our meeting!’
Mowgli rode on the back of Rama, the biggest of the buffaloes, and Akela chased the herd from behind. The buffaloes began to run down the ravine, faster and faster, and the ground shook under their heavy feet.
Shere Khan heard the noise and woke up. He knew what it was, and he began to run down the ravine. No tiger can hope to stand against a herd of buffaloes when they are moving fast. He looked for a way to escape, but the ravine was narrow, with high rocky walls. He had to go on, heavy with his dinner and his drink. Then he saw the cows at the bottom of the ravine, and turned. But it was too late. He fell under the feet of the buffaloes, and they ran over him like a river running down a mountain.
The buffaloes did not stop until they crashed into the herd of cows. Mowgli jumped off Rama’s back and shouted to Akela and Grey Brother.
‘It is does! Shere Khan is dead! He died the death of a dog, not a fighting tiger.’
Mowgli took his knife and started to cut the coat from Shere Khan’s body. It was hard work. After an hour Mowgli was still working when suddenly he felt a hand on his back. It was Buldeo, the village hunter.