Salta il testo dell’articolo
XI . Shere Khan’s Skin “ His skin will look good on the Council Rock , ” said Mowgli . “ We must work fast . ” He took out the knife that he now carried round his neck . It was hard work to take off the skin of a ten - foot tiger , and the wolves helped him . Suddenly a hand fell on his shoulder . It was Buldeo with his gun . The other herd boys had told the village that the buffaloes had run away , and Buldeo had come to punish Mowgli . The wolves disappeared as soon as they saw the man . “ It is the Lame Tiger ! ” said Buldeo . “ There are a hundred rupees on his head . Perhaps I will give you one rupee when I take the skin to Khanhiwara . ” “ But I need this skin myself , ” said Mowgli . “ How dare you speak to the chief hunter of the village like that ! Your stupid buffaloes killed this tiger , not you . Now I will give you nothing , only a good beating . ” “ Akela , this man is bothering me , ” said Mowgli . Suddenly Buldeo was lying on his back in the grass , and a big grey wolf was standing over him . Mowgli went on with his work as if he was alone . “ You are right , Buldeo , ” he said . “ You will never give me any of the money . There is an old war between this lame tiger and me , a very old war . And I have won . ” “ This is magic , ” thought Buldeo , “ very bad magic . ” He lay very still . He was afraid that Mowgli would turn into a tiger too . “ Great King , ” he whispered at last . “ I am an old man . May I get up and go away ? ” “ Go in peace , ” said Mowgli , and he laughed a little . “ Only , next time , don’t touch my kill . Let him go , Akela . ” Buldeo ran back to the village as fast as he could , and he told everyone a story about magic and wizards . It was almost evening when Mowgli finished . He hid the skin and took the buffaloes home . Half the village was waiting at the gate . “ That is because I have killed Shere Khan , ” he thought . But then stones began to fly round his head . “ Wizard ! Wolf’s child ! Go away ! ” the villagers shouted . “ Shoot , Buldeo ! ” Buldeo’s old gun went off with a bang , and a young buffalo cried out in pain . “ They are not so different from the Pack , these brothers of yours , ” said Akela calmly . “ I think they want to throw you out . ” “ Again ? ” said Mowgli . “ Last time it was because I was a man . This time it is because I am a wolf . ” A woman ran across to the herd . It was Messua . “ Oh , my son ! ” she cried . “ They say that you are a wizard . I don’t believe it , but go away , or they will kill you . I know that you have paid back the tiger for my Nathoo’s death . ” “ Run back , Messua , ” said Mowgli . A stone had hit him in the mouth , but he laughed . “ This is only one of their silly stories . I am no wizard . Goodbye ! ”
Indietro Pagina 13 di 18 Pagina 13 di 18 Avanti Continua a leggere con le traduzioni Crea un account gratuito: 7 giorni di Pro, poi 20 traduzioni di parole al giorno oppure un piano a pagamento.
