The small man cub sat in the circle with the wolf cubs.
He was playing with some white pebbles that glowed in the moonlight.
Father Wolf nudged Mowgli forward with his nose.
"Look well, oh, wolves!" Akela cried, as he'd done with the other cubs.
Before any wolves could respond, a muffled roar came from behind the rocks.
It was Shere Khan.
"The cub is mine!" the tiger growled.
"Give him to me!"
"Look well, oh, wolves!" Akela called.
"Look well upon this cub!"
The law of the jungle was that two wolves had to speak for the cub.
This was how the pack accepted the wolf cubs.
"Who will speak for this cub?" Akela called.
Mother Wolf tensed, ready to defend Mowgli.
Akela was still waiting for someone to speak.
Besides the wolves in the pack, only one other animal was allowed at the pack council.
It was Baloo, a sleepy brown bear who taught the wolf cubs the law of the jungle.
Baloo ate only nuts, roots, and honey, so none of the other jungle creatures feared him.
As Shere Khan stepped closer, the brown bear rose on his back legs.
He grunted loudly. "I speak for the human cub.
Let him run with the pack.
I will teach him, as I teach the other cubs."
"Who else will speak for the human cub?" Akela called.
Just then a black shadow dropped down into the circle.
It was Bagheera, the black panther.
The wolves quickly backed away from him.
"Akela, I have no right to be here."
The black panther's voice was as soft as honey dripping from a tree.
"But the law of the jungle says a cub's life may be bought. Am I right?"
"Yes!" a few young wolves replied eagerly.
The young wolves were always hungry.
"Akela!" one wolf called. "Listen to Bagheera.
The cub can be bought for a price. It is the law of the jungle."
The black panther smiled gently.
"I'd like to propose a deal. Baloo has already spoken for the boy.
If the rest of you accept him, I will share some delicious food with you.
It's a fat bull, freshly killed."
Mother Wolf looked at Father.
"Why is the panther speaking up for Mowgli?" she said. Father shrugged.
The other wolves had gathered to discuss the situation.
"The boy will die in the winter rains," one said.
"He will burn in the sun," another added.
"What harm can a little cub do?"
"Come on. Let's let him run with the pack."
Finally the wolves agreed to accept Mowgli.
Mowgli sat calmly, playing with the white pebbles.
Akela's cry rose as they each inspected him.
"Look well—look well, wolves!"
Soon the pack started down the hill to eat the meal promised by the panther.
Akela, Bagheera, Baloo, and Mowgli's family stayed behind at the rock.
With a furious roar, Shere Khan stalked away from them.
"Roar all you want, tiger," Bagheera muttered.
"I have a feeling about this man cub.
One day Mowgli will make you roar for another reason, Shere Khan."
Akela turned to Mother and Father Wolf with a smile.
"Humans are very wise. Perhaps your man cub can help our pack in some way."
Mowgli's parents nodded their thanks.
Then Father Wolf turned to the bear.
"And thank you for your help today, Baloo.
Please begin training little Mowgli as soon as possible.
He must learn how to be a wolf."