One day Bagheera had an idea. He got the idea from something that he had heard. Perhaps Ikki the Porcupine told him. It was a very warm day and he and Mowgli were in the middle of the jungle. Mowgli was lying with his head on Bagheera's beautiful black skin. Bagheera said, "Little Brother, how often have I told you that Shere Khan is your enemy?"

"You have told me once for every nut on that palm tree," said Mowgli, because of course, he could not count. "It's not important. I am sleepy, Bagheera, and Shere Khan has a long tail and just talks loudly - he is like Mao, the Peacock."

"But this is no time for sleeping. Baloo knows it; I know it; the Pack know it; and even the foolish, foolish deer know it. Even Tabaqui has told you."

"Ho! ho!" said Mowgli. "Tabaqui came to me recently. He was very rude and said that I was a naked man's cub. He said I shouldn't even be allowed to dig in the ground for my food like the pigs. But I caught Tabaqui by the tail and I swung him twice against a tree. That taught him not to be so rude."

"That was foolish. Tabaqui likes to cause trouble, but he would have told you something important. Open your eyes, Little Brother. Shere Khan is too scared to kill you in the jungle. But remember, Akela is very old. One day soon, he will not be able to hunt properly, and then he will not be leader any more".