The other herd children , watching with the cattle half a mile away , hurried to the village as fast as their legs could carry them , crying that the buffaloes had gone mad and run away . But Mowgli 's plan was simple enough . All he wanted to do was to make a big circle uphill and get at the head of the ravine , and then take the bulls down it and catch Shere Khan between the bulls and the cows ; for he knew that after a meal and a full drink Shere Khan would not be in any condition to fight or to clamber up the sides of the ravine . He was soothing the buffaloes now by voice , and Akela had dropped far to the rear , only whimpering once or twice to hurry the rear-guard . It was a long , long circle , for they did not wish to get too near the ravine and give Shere Khan warning . At last Mowgli rounded up the bewildered herd at the head of the ravine on a grassy patch that sloped steeply down to the ravine itself . From that height you could see across the tops of the trees down to the plain below ; but what Mowgli looked at was the sides of the ravine , and he saw with a great deal of satisfaction that they ran nearly straight up and down , while the vines and creepers that hung over them would give no foothold to a tiger who wanted to get out . `` Let them breathe , Akela , '' he said , holding up his hand . `` They have not winded him yet . Let them breathe . 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 XXXXX 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 .
bulls circle drink hand herd meal time tops trap voice