How naked , and -- how bold ! '' said Mother Wolf softly . The baby was pushing his way between the cubs to get close to the warm hide . `` Ahai ! He is taking his meal with the others . And so this is a man 's cub . Now , was there ever a wolf that could boast of a man 's cub among her children ? '' `` I have heard now and again of such a thing , but never in our Pack or in my time , '' said Father Wolf . `` He is altogether without hair , and I could kill him with a touch of my foot . But see , he looks up and is not afraid . '' The moonlight was blocked out of the mouth of the cave , for Shere Khan 's great square head and shoulders were thrust into the entrance . Tabaqui , behind him , was squeaking : `` My lord , my lord , it went in here ! '' `` Shere Khan does us great honor , '' said Father Wolf , but his eyes were very angry . `` What does Shere Khan need ? '' `` My quarry . A man 's cub went this way , '' said Shere Khan . `` Its parents have run off . Give it to me . '' Shere Khan had jumped at a woodcutter 's campfire , as Father Wolf had said , and was furious from the pain of his burned feet . But Father Wolf knew that the mouth of the cave was too narrow for a tiger to come in by .
Even where he was , Shere XXXXX 's shoulders and forepaws were cramped for want of room , as a man 's would be if he tried to fight in a barrel .
Ahai Khan Tabaqui Wolf campfire cave cub hair touch woodcutter