The Jungle Book Chapter 24

[00:00:00.00]The Jungle Book
[00:00:03.30]Chapter 24
[00:00:05.30]Bagheeras Secret
[00:00:09.90]That night Mowgli stayed with Messua in her hut. 
[00:00:15.30]As they ate dinner, she told him that her husband had died. 
[00:00:19.70]"But you saved our lives that night, Mowgli." 
[00:00:23.40]Her eyes filled with grateful tears. 
[00:00:26.70]"And we have had a good life here. 
[00:00:30.60]There's a village nearby, and I am content."
[00:00:40.10]In the morning Mowgli got ready to go.
[00:00:43.60]"Please visit again," Messua whispered, hugging him. 
[00:00:49.80]"I love you."
[00:00:51.70]Mowgli's throat felt tight. 
[00:00:54.60]"I love you too, Messua. 
[00:00:57.30]And I will come back soon. 
[00:00:59.70]I promise."
[00:01:03.40]As he headed toward the marsh, a large beast jumped out of the tall grass.
[00:01:08.60]"Bagheera!" Mowgli said in surprise. 
[00:01:12.80]"What are you doing here?"
[00:01:15.50]"I followed you," Bagheera replied.
[00:01:18.90]"Again?" Mowgli laughed and shook his head. 
[00:01:23.70]"You're always following me. 
[00:01:27.30]So are Mother Wolf and Gray Brother."
[00:01:30.20]Bagheera looked nervous. 
[00:01:32.90]"Are you ... 
[00:01:34.30]Are you coming back to the jungle?" he asked. 
[00:01:37.80]"I ... I thought you might stay here with the woman."
[00:01:41.40]Mowgli shook his head. 
[00:01:43.70]"I don't think I belong with people, Bagheera. 
[00:01:47.60]The man pack threw me out—remember? 
[00:01:52.30]Just like the wolf pack."
[00:01:54.40]Bagheera studied Mowgli for a second. 
[00:01:58.30]Then he lifted his chin. 
[00:02:00.80]"Feel under my jaw."
[00:02:03.90]Mowgli obediently put his fingers under Bagheera's silky chin. 
[00:02:09.00]The panther's fur covered thick muscles. 
[00:02:12.30]Then Mowgli touched a bare patch. 
[00:02:15.80]"What's this?" he asked.
[00:02:18.80]"It is the mark of a collar," Bagheera said. 
[00:02:23.00]"No one in the jungle knows this—
[00:02:25.80]I was also born among people, Mowgli. 
[00:02:30.60]I lived in a cage at the king's palace."
[00:02:33.80]"What?" Mowgli blinked in surprise. 
[00:02:37.80]Bagheera had lived with humans too?
[00:02:40.70]"That's why I spoke for you at the council when you were a little cub," Bagheera went on. 
[00:02:46.60]"My mother died in the cages at the palace. 
[00:02:51.00]After that, I had no family there, and .. ."
[00:02:55.20]Mowgli couldn't imagine the beautiful, strong panther trapped in a cage. 
[00:03:01.30]"The cage must have felt like prison."
[00:03:05.00]"It was a prison," Bagheera said. 
[00:03:08.20]"I lived there without ever seeing the jungle. 
[00:03:12.50]Then one night I mysteriously found my strength. 
[00:03:17.30]I told myself I was a panther— not a plaything for people. 
[00:03:22.10]And I broke the silly lock with one blow of my paw."
[00:03:26.30]Mowgli grinned. 
[00:03:28.40]That was something he could picture Bagheera doing.
[00:03:32.50]"Now you know my secret, Little Brother. 
[00:03:35.40]I returned to the jungle where I belonged. 
[00:03:38.50]As for you ..." Bagheera paused. 
[00:03:42.00]"You are a human. 
[00:03:43.80]So one day you too will return to where you belong."
[00:03:48.60]"Nope. 
[00:03:50.00]Sorry, Bagheera, but you're wrong." Mowgli shook his head firmly. 
[00:03:54.80]"I won't ever live with people again. 
[00:03:58.00]I'll visit Messua, but that's about it." 
[00:04:02.90]He patted the panther. 
[00:04:06.50]"And when I'm older and on my own, I'll come back to visit you and Baloo—"
[00:04:11.80]Just then a girl in a flowing white dress appeared on the path. 
[00:04:18.30]Mowgli and Bagheera ducked behind some bushes. 
[00:04:21.80]As the girl passed, Mowgli moved the bushes with his hand. 
[00:04:26.60]He watched the girl walk toward the marsh.
[00:04:31.50]"The boy is both man and wolf," 
[00:04:37.40]Bagheera thought, watching him tenderly. 
[00:04:40.30]"But one day he will become more man than wolf."
[00:04:45.10]The girl disappeared, 
[00:04:47.40]and Bagheera nudged Mowgli with his nose. 
[00:04:50.70]"Ready to go home, Little Brother?"
[00:04:53.70]"Yes." Mowgli leaped onto the panther's back. 
[00:04:58.60]Then together they went back into the jungle.