And because I know about men, the animals of the jungle are more scared of me than Shere Khan. Is this not true?"

"Yes," said Mowgli, "everyone in the jungle fis scared of Bagheera - except Mowgli."

"Oh, you are a man's cub," said the Black Panther very gently and softly. "I came back to the jungle, and one day way you must go back to men. Men are your brothers. But maybe the wolves will kill you first."

"But why - but why does anyone want to kill me?" said Mowgli.

"Look at me," said Bagheera. And Mowgli looked right into the eyes of Bagheera. After half a minute, the big panther turned his head away. He looked very uncomfortable. "That is why," he said. "Not even I can look into your eyes, and I was born among men, and I love you, Little Brother. The others hate you because they cannot look into your eyes; because you are wise; because you can pull out thorns from their feet - because you are a man."

"I did not know about this," said Mowgli. He was upset, and he looked angry.