Just to give you an idea of the immense variety of the Jungle Law, I
have translated into verse (Baloo always recited them in a sort of
sing-song) a few of the laws that apply to the wolves. There are, of
course, hundreds and hundreds more, but these will do for specimens of
the simpler rulings.
_Now this is the Law of the Jungle--as old and as true as the
sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that
shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward
and back--
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the
Wolf is the Pack._
Wash daily from nose-tip to tail-tip; drink deeply, but never too
deep;
And remember the night is for hunting, and forget not the day is
for sleep.
The Jackal may follow the Tiger, but, Cub, when thy whiskers are
grown,
Remember the Wolf is a hunter--go forth and get food of thine
own.
Keep peace with the Lords of the Jungle--the Tiger, the Panther,
the Bear;
And trouble not Hathi the Silent, and mock not the Boar in his
lair.
When Pack meets with Pack in the Jungle, and neither will go from
the trail,
Lie down till the leaders have spoken--it may be fair words shall
prevail.
When ye fight with a Wolf of the Pack, ye must fight him alone and
afar,
Lest others take part in the quarrel, and the Pack be diminished
by war.
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, and where he has made him his
home,
Not even the Head Wolf may enter, not even the Council may come.
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, but where he has digged it
too plain,
The Council shall send him a message, and so he shall change it
again.
If ye kill before midnight, be silent, and wake not the woods with
your bay,
Lest ye frighten the deer from the crops, and the brothers go empty
away.
Ye may kill for yourselves, and your mates, and your cubs as they
need, and ye can;
But kill not for pleasure of killing, and _seven times never kill
Man_.
If ye plunder his Kill from a weaker, devour not all in thy pride;
Pack-Right is the right of the meanest; so leave him the head and
the hide.
The Kill of the Pack is the meat of the Pack. Ye must eat where it
lies;
And no one may carry away of that meat to his lair, or he dies.
The Kill of the Wolf is the meat of the Wolf. He may do what he
will,
But, till he has given permission, the Pack may not eat of that
Kill.
Cub-Right is the right of the Yearling. From all of his Pack he
may claim
Full-gorge when the killer has eaten; and none may refuse him the
same.
Lair-Right is the right of the Mother. From all of her year she
may claim
One haunch of each kill for her litter, and none may deny her the
same.
Cave-Right is the right of the Father--to hunt by himself for his
own:
He is freed of all calls to the Pack; he is judged by the Council
alone.
Because of his age and his cunning, because of his gripe and his
paw,
In all that the Law leaveth open, the word of the Head Wolf is
Law.
_Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and many and mighty are
they;
But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump
is--Obey!_