"_Therefore_," he said, stretching out a dripping right paw, "I did not come. It was a long hunt, but he lies dead in the bushes now--a bull in his second year--the Bull that frees thee, Little Brother. All debts are paid now. For the rest, my word is Baloo's word." He licked Mowgli's foot. "Remember, Bagheera loved thee," he cried and bounded away. At the foot of the hill he cried again long and loud, "Good hunting on a new trail, Master of the Jungle! Remember, Bagheera loved thee." "Thou hast heard," said Baloo. "There is no more. Go now; but first come to me. O wise Little Frog, come to me!" "It is hard to cast the skin," said Kaa as Mowgli sobbed and sobbed, with his head on the blind bear's side and his arms round his neck, while Baloo tried feebly to lick his feet. "The stars are thin," said Gray Brother, snuffing at the dawn-wind. "Where shall we lair to-day? For, from now, we follow new trails." * * * * * And this is the last of the Mowgli stories. [Illustration] THE OUTSONG This is the song that Mowgli heard behind him in the Jungle till he came to Messua's door again: BALOO-- For the sake of him who showed One wise Frog the Jungle-Road, Keep the Law the Man-Pack make-- For thy blind old Baloo's sake! Clean or tainted, hot or stale, Hold it as it were the Trail, Through the day and through the night Questing neither left nor right. For the sake of him who loves Thee beyond all else that moves, When thy Pack would make thee pain, Say: "Tabaqui sings again." When thy Pack would work thee ill, Say: "Shere Khan is yet to kill." When the knife is drawn to slay, Keep the Law and go thy way. (Root and honey, palm and spathe, Guard a cub from harm and scathe!) _Wood and Water, Wind and Tree, Jungle-Favor go with thee!_ KAA-- Anger is the egg of Fear-- Only lidless eyes are clear. Cobra-poison none may leech; Even so with Cobra-speech. Open talk shall call to thee Strength, whose mate is Courtesy. Send no lunge beyond thy length; Lend no rotten bough thy strength. Gauge thy gape with buck or goat, Lest thine eye should choke thy throat After gorging, wouldst thou sleep, Look the den is hid and deep, Lest a wrong, by thee forgot, Draw thy killer to the spot. East and West and North and South, Wash thy hide and close thy mouth. (Pit and rift and blue pool-brim, Middle Jungle follow him!) _Wood and Water, Wind and Tree, Jungle-Favor go with thee!_ BAGHEERA--