(....)

.....the fire was burning furiously at the end of the branch and Mowgli struck right and left around the circle and the wolves ran howling, the sparks burning their fur. At last, there were only Akela, Bagheera and about ten wolves that had taken Mowgli’s part. Then something began to hurt Mowgli inside him, as he’d never been hurt in his life before. And he caught his breath and sobbed, and the tears ran down his face.

            ‘What is it? What is it?’ he said. ‘I do not wish to leave the jungle, and I do not know what this is. Am I dying, Bagheera?’

            ‘No little brother,’ said Bagheera, ‘those are only tears such as men use. Now I know thou art a man, and a man’s cub no longer.'

            'Let them fall Mowgli, they are only tears.’