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Mowgli in Trouble

In "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling, a little boy named Mowgli is adopted by a family of wolves and brought up in the jungle. Baloo, the bear, teaches Mowgli the way of the jungle and Bagheera, the black panther, protects him. One day, the Bandar-Log or the monkeys kidnap Mowgli and take him away to the Cold Lairs. Read on to see how Baloo, Bagheera, and others save Mowgli from the Bandar-log.

Baloo the bear was delighted to have Mowgli as a pupil. The boy could climb almost as well as he could swim, and swim almost as well as he could run. Baloo taught Mowgli how to tell a rotten branch from a good one. He taught him how to speak politely to the wild bees. He explained how to warn the water-snakes in the pools before Mowgli splashed down among them. He also taught Mowgli the Strangers’ Hunting Call. This call must be used whenever anyone hunts outside his own grounds. It means: ‘Give me permission to hunt here because I am hungry.’ And the answer is: ‘Hunt then for food, but not for pleasure.’

From the branches above, the Bandar-log would watch Mowgli learn and play. They watched his nimble fingers make things out of twigs. They found him to be very wise indeed, and wanted him in their tribe. Then Mowgli would share his skills and wisdom with Bandar-log. 

They believed that he could lead their group. The monkeys loved this idea because they wanted everyone in the jungle to be envious of their tribe. So one day, as Mowgli slept between Baloo and Bagheera, they swooped down on him. A group of them lifted his arms and legs and carried him away.

The next thing Mowgli remembered was feeling hands on his legs and arms – hard, strong, little hands. Then some branches swished in his face. Baloo immediately woke the jungle with his deep cries. The monkeys were taking Mowgli away! Bagheera growled and tried to run up the tree trunk. The Bandar-log howled with triumph and leapt higher to the upper branches. Bounding and crashing and whooping and yelling, the whole tribe of Bandar-log swept along the trees with Mowgli as their prisoner.

Mowgli realized that it was useless to look down, for he could only see the top of the branches. So he stared upward and saw Rann the Kite flying in the blue sky. He decided to cry out to Rann for help. "O Brother Rann, observe where they're taking me!" Mowgli shouted to Rann. "Tell Baloo and Bagheera where they are taking me!"

Rann nodded and observed the path of the Bandar-log. After a few minutes, he flew away in search of Baloo and Bagheera. Meantime, Baloo and Bagheera were furious with rage and grief. How could the monkeys snatch their dear Mowgli from right under their noses! They needed a plan to get Mowgli back.

Baloo thought hard and then said, "The Bandar-log fear Kaa the Rock Python. He can climb as well as they can. He steals the young monkeys in the night. They are afraid to even whisper his name! Let us go to Kaa for help. We will promise him food in return."

When they found Kaa, he was stretched out, and licking his lips as he thought of his dinner to come.

"Good hunting!" greeted Baloo. All creatures in the jungle greeted each other thus.
"Good hunting!" greeted Baloo.
All creatures in the jungle greeted each other thus.

"Good hunting for us all," Kaa answered. "Baloo, what are you doing in this part of the jungle?"

"It is the Bandar-log that we follow," said Baloo. "Those nut-stealers and pickers of palm leaves have stolen away Mowgli."

"Help us get our friend back," said Bagheera, "and we will repay you this favour."

Even as he spoke, they heard the fluttering of wings. Rann the kite landed beside them and said, "I have seen Mowgli among the Bandar-log." 

He asked me to tell you. The Bandar-log have taken him beyond the river to the Cold Lairs."

"Thank you, Rann!" said Bagheera.