Маугли / Mowgli

So one day, when Mowgli was sleeping, the Bandar-log swooped down from the trees and carried him off. Mowgli opened his eyes and found that he was being carried away through the trees.

He cried out aloud. Baloo and Bagheera woke up, and were horrified to see the Bandar-log carry their Little Brother away.

Mowgli was very angry with himself. He should have listened to Baloo and kept away from these silly chattering monkeys. He felt dizzy as he was swung from branch to branch and from tree to tree.

Mowgli looked up and saw Chil, the kite, flying over him. He gave the kite a call for help. Chil was surprised to hear the call and looked down. He was even more surprised to hear a man-cub say the Master Word.

Mowgli called out to him, saying, “We are of one blood, you and I. Mark my trail. Tell Baloo and Bagheera. Go quickly.”

“Who are you, brother?” Chil asked.

“I am Mowgli, the man-cub. Mark my trail,” he repeated, “and hurry to Baloo and Bagheera.”

The monkeys carried him to the place the jungle creatures called the Cold Lairs. It was an old, ruined city, with its walls crumbling down. The monkeys lived here because there was a large water tank. No jungle creature ever came here, so they had the water to themselves.

Exercises

1. Переведите на английский язык:

точно, земля, циновка, солома, чувствующий головокружение, след (человека или животного).

2. Заполните пропуски словами из списка.

swooped down, to carry him away, wise, weaving, look up,

1. The animals of the jungle lived on the ground and they did not _____________ at them.

2. They had seen him ___________ mats with straw and sticks.

3. They thought that they could learn many things from him, and this would make them ____________.

4. They decided _____________ and make him their leader.

5. One day, when Mowgli was sleeping, the Bandar-log ___________ from the trees and carried him off.

3. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. Why did Bandar-log want Mowgli to be their leader?

2. What did they do when Mowgli was sleeping?

3. What did Mowgli tell Chill?

4. Who was Chill?

5. Where did the monkeys carry Mowgli?

4. Переведите на русский язык:

envy, horrified, chattering, mark, lairs, ruined.

6

Baloo and Bagheera were filled with grief. They had woken in time to see Mowgli being carried away.

“You should have warned him,” said Bagheera to Baloo. “You have taught him many things, but not all. You did not tell him about the silly, chattering Bandar-log. They could drop him while carrying him over the trees. He will surely die from such a fall.”

Baloo was too full of grief to reply. Chil spotted them as he flew over. He gave them Mowgli’s message.

“He knew the Master Word!” Chil exclaimed.

“What is the use?” wailed Baloo. “He may be dead by now.”

“Do not be so full of grief, Baloo,” comforted Bagheera. “The monkeys will be careful because they want him. Also, the man-cub is wise and well-taught. But as long as he is with them, he is not safe.”

“Oh, I am such a fat, stupid fool,” wailed Baloo again. “But, Bagheera, the Bandar-log fear Kaa, the snake, because he can climb trees, and he steals young monkeys in the night.”

“What can he do? He cannot move fast, as he has no feet.”

“He is a cunning old creature. Better still, he is always hungry,” said Baloo. “Come, we’ll go and seek his help. If he helps, we will promise him many goats.”

Both of them set off to look for Kaa. They found him sunning himself. His new coat was shining in the sun. (A snake sheds its skin when a new skin has formed inside.)

Exercises

1. Переведите на английский язык:

уронить, наверняка, заметить, послание, воскликнуть, бояться, отправиться.

2. Заполните пропуски словами из списка.

shining, careful, promise, grief, safe

1. Baloo and Bagheera were filled with __________.

2. The monkey will be ___________ because they want him.

3. As long as he is with them, he is not ___________.

4. If he helps, we will ___________ him many goats.

5. His new coat was _______________ in the sun.

3. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. Who was more full of grief – Baloo or Bagheera?

2. Who gave them Mowgli’s message?

3. Why was Bagheera sure that the monkeys would be careful with Mowgli?

4. Why did they go to seek the snake’s help?

5. What was the snake’s name?

6. What was the snake doing when they found him?

4. Переведите на русский язык.

to reply, to exclaim, to comfort, well-taught, fool, to steal, to shed skin, inside.

7

Kaa was a very big snake. Every creature in the jungle was afraid of his strength. Once he caught an animal and got it in his coils, he crushed it to death and then swallowed it.

Kaa was hungry. He said, “Hello, Baloo and Bagheera. What are you doing here? Have you any news of food for me? I am so hungry.”