Sergeant Harley

Sergeant Harley is a supporting villain in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

Role in the Film
Originally from Scotland, Harley was a soldier working under the command of Colonel Geoffrey Brydon for twenty-five years. He was evidently (as pointed out later on) that he was never satisfied with not making profit from his duties and would later team up with William Boone during the British Army's expedition in India.

Harley is first seen when Boone has Mowgli arrested for "attempting to kill" the Colonel's daughter, Katherine "Kitty" Brydon. Harley, when learning that Mowgli is in possession of a bejewelled dagger, lights up and he tries to interrogate Mowgli into telling him, Boone and Lt. Wilkins where he found it. But he gets kicked in the crotch and loses his temper, beating Mowgli savagely only to be reprimanded by Colonel Brydon as he enters. Brydon tells the three officers to show the prisoner some charity and after he leaves, Boone coldly instructs Harley to further torture the information out of Mowgli.

Harley does, but to no avail, not even when he attempts speaking Hindi. One day, Kitty enters the dungeon and informs the three of her plans to re-introduce the Jungle Boy back to civilisation (an idea plotted by her and the surgeon, Dr. Plumford). Boone, Wilkins and Harley insisted that the prisoner was vicious and uncivilised and when accused of the bruises inflicted on Mowgli they lie and indignantly claim that Mowgli did it to himself despite their attempts to stop him. But Kitty ignores their excuses.

Sergeant Harley is next seen during the revolt in which Boone, Wilkins and he turn against Kitty and her father and with the help of Buldeo, Tabaqui and several bandits, kidnap them. When asked by Colonel Brydon if he was in cahoots with the scoundrels, Harley affirmed, stating his dismay at having never been paid for all his year's work in the British Army. When Mowgli showed up to stop the group of rogues, Boone told him to approach them otherwise "unpleasantries may occur". To further prove Boone's point, a knife was held to Kitty's throat and Harley told their message to Mowgli "Take us to the treasure and she'll live." Mowgli aggrees but is not certain they will survive the dangerous journey.

That night as they camp in the middle of the Black Jungle, Harley is irritated at Wilkins complaining about the eerie sound of wolves howling and repeatedly orders Mowgli to "shut them up". Mowgli eventually does with a single howl. But the following silence is interrupted by the fierce and well-known growl of Shere Kahn, the mighty tiger. Harley and Wilkins, both hailing from Britain and having never heard such sounds before, are frightened.

The next morning, Harley is the first to awaken and catches Mowgli escaping after Bagheera bites through the rope holding Mowgli to a tree. Harley jumps up and gives chase alerting the others of the situation. As Harley runs recklessly through the shrubbery, he falls into a pond of quicksand.

Realising the danger he's in, Harley panics and screams for help. Wilkins rushes to his aid, bewildered and panicking. The quicksand begins sucking Harley under and he begs Wilkins to help him. Wilkins manages to grab Harley's hand but claims that Harley is pulling him in. Harley becomes hysterical and screams at Wilkins not to let go, but Wilkins does.

With his last breath, Harley scorns Wilkins before sinking out of sight to his doom.