TheGood Jungle Book Lessons Chapter 2 There are many adventures of Mowgli, but there is one that I want to tell you and that takes place in the days when Baloo is teaching Mowgli the Law of the Jungle. The big, serious, old brown bear Baloo is very proud1 of Mowgli because he is a very good student and learns quickly. Sometimes Bagheera, the Black Panther, crosses2 the jungle silently to see the man cub s progress. Baloo first teaches Mowgli to hunt only when he is hungry and not for fun. Then, he teaches him the important Master Words to speak to the different Jungle People. Mowgli must repeat them many times and learn them by heart3 because they can help him to speak to all the different populations that live in the jungle. One day Mowgli is bored, and he isn t listening to Baloo s lesson. Baloo gets angry and hits4 the little boy on his head gently. Mowgli runs away and climbs up a tree. Bagheera is with them and says, Don t hit the little Mowgli, Baloo! He s young! How can he remember all those long words? His head is small! I know he s young but, unfortunately, in the jungle there are many dangers. It isn t always a safe place to live! Those long words help him to keep safe from all the snakes, birds and other beasts5 in the jungle, answers Baloo. Then he calls Mowgli, Mowgli! Come here and say the Master Words again! Mowgli climbs down the tree and says, I m here for Bagheera, not for you, fat old Baloo! I know all the words! 1. proud: feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. 2. to cross: to go on the opposite side of something. 3. by heart: using memory to remember things. 19 4. to hit: to touch/to put hands on with force. 5. beast: a large or wild animal. 3