Mowgli held up the fire-pot . `` Good ! Now , I have seen men thrust a dry branch into that stuff , and presently the Red Flower blossomed at the end of it . Art thou not afraid ? '' `` No . Why should I fear ? I remember now -- if it is not a dream -- how , before I was a Wolf , I lay beside the Red Flower , and it was warm and pleasant . '' All that day Mowgli sat in the cave tending his fire pot and dipping dry branches into it to see how they looked . He found a branch that satisfied him , and in the evening when Tabaqui came to the cave and told him rudely enough that he was wanted at the Council Rock , he laughed till Tabaqui ran away . Then Mowgli went to the Council , still laughing . Akela the Lone Wolf lay by the side of his rock as a sign that the leadership of the Pack was open , and Shere Khan with his following of scrap-fed wolves walked to and fro openly being flattered . Bagheera lay close to Mowgli , and the fire pot was between Mowgli 's knees . When they were all gathered together , Shere Khan began to speak -- a thing he would never have dared to do when Akela was in his prime . `` He has no right , '' whispered Bagheera . `` Say so . He is a dog 's son . He will be frightened . '' Mowgli sprang to his feet . `` Free People , '' he cried , `` does Shere Khan lead the Pack ? What has a tiger to do with our leadership ? ''
`` Seeing that the XXXXX is yet open , and being asked to speak -- '' Shere Khan began .
Art Council Lone cave dog leadership men side sign stuff