I must tell Shere Khan who comes . We have him in the trap . '' He put his hands to his mouth and shouted down the ravine -- it was almost like shouting down a tunnel -- and the echoes jumped from rock to rock . After a long time there came back the drawling , sleepy snarl of a full-fed tiger just wakened . `` Who calls ? '' said Shere Khan , and a splendid peacock fluttered up out of the ravine screeching . `` I , Mowgli . Cattle thief , it is time to come to the Council Rock ! Down -- hurry them down , Akela ! Down , Rama , down ! '' The herd paused for an instant at the edge of the slope , but Akela gave tongue in the full hunting-yell , and they pitched over one after the other , just as steamers shoot rapids , the sand and stones spurting up round them . Once started , there was no chance of stopping , and before they were fairly in the bed of the ravine Rama winded Shere Khan and bellowed . `` Ha ! Ha ! '' said Mowgli , on his back . `` Now thou knowest ! '' and the torrent of black horns , foaming muzzles , and staring eyes whirled down the ravine just as boulders go down in floodtime ; the weaker buffaloes being shouldered out to the sides of the ravine where they tore through the creepers . They knew what the business was before them -- the terrible charge of the buffalo herd against which no tiger can hope to stand . Shere Khan heard the thunder of their hoofs , picked himself up , and lumbered down the ravine , looking from side to side for some way of escape , but the walls of the ravine were straight and he had to hold on , heavy with his dinner and his drink , willing to do anything rather than fight . The herd splashed through the pool he had just left , bellowing till the narrow cut rang .
Mowgli heard an answering bellow from the foot of the ravine , saw Shere Khan turn -LRB- the tiger knew if the worst came to the worst it was better to meet the bulls than the cows with their calves -RRB- , and then XXXXX tripped , stumbled , and went on again over something soft , and , with the bulls at his heels , crashed full into the other herd , while the weaker buffaloes were lifted clean off their feet by the shock of the meeting .
Akela Khan Mowgli Rama escape floodtime hunting-yell left rapids snarl