This story returns to follow Mowgli after he has left the wolf pack and goes to the human village. Mowgli arrives at the gates and the villagers point and shout at him, which makes him think that they are as rude as the monkeys. The village priest notices wolf bites on Mowgli’s arms and realizes that he must have been raised in the jungle. A local woman named Messua thinks that he looks similar to her son, who was taken by a tiger. Because she is from a rich family, the priest decides that Mowgli must be her son brought back. Messua tries to see whether Mowgli remembers being her son, Nathoo, but he does not, and he does not yet understand human speech. He begins to learn the ways of men, but he finds it impossible to sleep under a roof and so goes to sleep outside. One of his wolf brothers comes to visit him and promises to return and bring him news of the jungle.

For three months, Mowgli lives in the village. He is considered very strong after his life in the jungle. He does not understand the caste system and so helps a low-caste potter, which causes the village priest to demand that he start working as a herder for the buffalo.