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“ You smell of smoke and cows , just like a man already , ” said Grey Brother . “ I bring news . Shere Khan has gone far away until his burned coat grows again . But when he comes back , he says , he will kill you . ” “ I have made a promise too , ” said Mowgli . “ Always bring me the news , Grey Brother . ” For three months Mowgli learned the ways of men . He had to wear a cloth round his body , and he hated it . He did not understand money at all . The village children laughed at him , but he never hurt them . It is not fair to hurt little cubs . At last the head man of the village said that Mowgli must take the buffaloes out to eat grass every day . Mowgli was very pleased . That evening he went to the big fig tree in the middle of the village , where the men sat and talked every night . Old Buldeo , the village hunter , was telling stories with his gun across his knees . “ The tiger that took Messua’s boy is a ghost - tiger , ” Buldeo was saying . “ He limps , because inside him lives the ghost of old Purun Dass , the money - lender , who also limped . ” “ That tiger limps because he was born lame , ” said Mowgli . “ Everyone knows that . Your story is baby talk . ” “ Oho ! The jungle boy ! ” said Buldeo angrily . “ If you are so clever , bring his skin to Khanhiwara . The Government will pay a hundred rupees for it . Or be quiet when older people are talking . ” “ All evening I have listened , ” said Mowgli , “ and Buldeo has hardly said one true word about the jungle , which is right outside his door . So how can I believe his stories about ghosts ? ” X . The Buffalo Herd The next morning Mowgli rode through the village on the back of Rama , the great bull of the herd , and the grey - blue buffaloes followed him . As long as the herd boys stay with the buffaloes , they are safe . Not even a tiger will attack a big group of cattle . At the edge of the plain , near the Waingunga River , Grey Brother was waiting in some bamboo . “ Shere Khan came back and waited for you here a long time , ” said Grey Brother . “ Now he has gone away again , because there is not much food . But he still means to kill you . ” “ Very good , ” said Mowgli . “ While he is away , you or one of our brothers must sit on that rock , so that I can see you from the village . When he comes back , wait for me by the dhak tree in the middle of the plain . ” Day after day Mowgli lay in the shade while the buffaloes lay in the mud like logs . And day after day he saw a wolf on the rock . Then one day there was no wolf on the rock . Mowgli took the buffaloes to the dhak tree , which was covered with red flowers . Grey Brother was waiting , and all the hair on his back stood up .
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