The Jungle book

A black shadow dropped down into the circle. It was Bagheera the Black Panther, black as ink all over. He had the marks on his fur that ordinary panthers had, but he was so black you could hardly see them. Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody liked to make him angry. He was as cunning as Tabaqui the jackal, as brave as the wild buffalo, and he took risks like a wounded elephant. But his voice was as smooth as wild honey dripping from a tree, and his skin was very soft. " Akela, and you Free People," he purred, "I don't belong in your assembly, but the Law of the Jungle says that if there is a doubt about a new cub, the life of that cub may be bought at a price. And the Law does not say who has to pay that price. Am I right?"

"Good! Good!" said the young wolves, who are always hungry. "Listen to Bagheera. The cub can be bought for a price. It is the Law."

"I know that I have no right to speak here, so I ask your permission to continue. To kill a naked cub is shame. If you want to kill him, why not wait until he is older, and it is more fun? Baloo has spoken for him. Now I will add one bull. It is a fat one, and it's just been killed, less than half a mile from here. You can have it if you will accept the man's cub according to the Law. Is it difficult to decide?"

The wolves all spoke together, saying: "What does it matter if we accept him? He will die in the winter rains. He will scorch in the sun. How dangerous can a naked frog be? He can run with the Pack. Where is the bull, Bagheera? The man's cub is accepted."

Vocabulary:

Panther: A large wild cat
Ink: The dark liquid in a pen
Cunning: Practical intelligence
Buffalo: A kind of large cow
Take risks: Do dangerous things
Drip: To fall one drop at a time
Purr: The sound of a happy cat
Shame: To feel bad about what other people think of you
Scorch: Burn without fire