“Said I not it would be my last fight?” Akela gasped. “It is good hunting. And thou, Little Brother?”

“I live, having killed many.”

“Even so. I die, and I would — I would die by thee, Little Brother.”

Mowgli took the terrible scarred head on his knees, and put his arms round the torn neck.

“It is long since the old days of Shere Khan, and a Man-cub that rolled naked in the dust.”

“Nay, nay, I am a wolf.

I am of one skin with the Free People,” Mowgli cried. “It is no will of mine that I am a man.”

“Thou art a man, Little