¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Rikki¡Tikki¡Tavi¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡where¡¡he¡¡went¡¡in
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Red¡Eye¡¡called¡¡to¡¡Wrinkle¡Skin¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hear¡¡what¡¡little¡¡Red¡Eye¡¡saith£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Nag£»¡¡come¡¡up¡¡and¡¡dance¡¡with¡¡death£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Eye¡¡to¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡head¡¡to¡¡head£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨Keep¡¡the¡¡measure£»¡¡Nag¡££©
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡shall¡¡end¡¡when¡¡one¡¡is¡¡dead£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨At¡¡thy¡¡pleasure£»¡¡Nag¡££©
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Turn¡¡for¡¡turn¡¡and¡¡twist¡¡for¡¡twist
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨Run¡¡and¡¡hide¡¡thee£»¡¡Nag¡££©
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hah£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡hooded¡¡Death¡¡has¡¡missed£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨Woe¡¡betide¡¡thee£»¡¡Nag£¡£©
This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡war¡¡that¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡tavi¡¡fought
single¡handed£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bath¡rooms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡bungalow¡¡in
Segowlee¡¡cantonment¡£¡¡¡¡Darzee£»¡¡the¡¡Tailorbird£»¡¡helped¡¡him£»¡¡and
Chuchundra£»¡¡the¡¡musk¡rat£»¡¡who¡¡never¡¡comes¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of
the¡¡floor£»¡¡but¡¡always¡¡creeps¡¡round¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡advice£»
but¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡did¡¡the¡¡real¡¡fighting¡£
He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mongoose£»¡¡rather¡¡like¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cat¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fur¡¡and¡¡his
tail£»¡¡but¡¡quite¡¡like¡¡a¡¡weasel¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡his¡¡habits¡£¡¡¡¡His
eyes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡his¡¡restless¡¡nose¡¡were¡¡pink¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡scratch
himself¡¡anywhere¡¡he¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡any¡¡leg£»¡¡front¡¡or¡¡back£»¡¡that¡¡he
chose¡¡to¡¡use¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡fluff¡¡up¡¡his¡¡tail¡¡till¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a
bottle¡¡brush£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡war¡¡cry¡¡as¡¡he¡¡scuttled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡long
grass¡¡was£º¡¡¡¨Rikk¡tikk¡tikki¡tikki¡tchk£¡¡¨
One¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡high¡¡summer¡¡flood¡¡washed¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡burrow
where¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡with¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡him£»
kicking¡¡and¡¡clucking£»¡¡down¡¡a¡¡roadside¡¡ditch¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡a¡¡little
wisp¡¡of¡¡grass¡¡floating¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡it¡¡till¡¡he¡¡lost¡¡his
senses¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡revived£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡sun¡¡on¡¡the
middle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡garden¡¡path£»¡¡very¡¡draggled¡¡indeed£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡small¡¡boy¡¡was
saying£»¡¡¡¨Here's¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡mongoose¡£¡¡¡¡Let's¡¡have¡¡a¡¡funeral¡£¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡¡¨let's¡¡take¡¡him¡¡in¡¡and¡¡dry¡¡him¡£
Perhaps¡¡he¡¡isn't¡¡really¡¡dead¡£¡¨
They¡¡took¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡big¡¡man¡¡picked¡¡him¡¡up
between¡¡his¡¡finger¡¡and¡¡thumb¡¡and¡¡said¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡dead¡¡but¡¡half
choked¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡they¡¡wrapped¡¡him¡¡in¡¡cotton¡¡wool£»¡¡and¡¡warmed¡¡him¡¡over¡¡a
little¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡sneezed¡£
¡¨Now£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡big¡¡man¡¡£¨he¡¡was¡¡an¡¡Englishman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡just
moved¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bungalow£©£»¡¡¡¨don't¡¡frighten¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡we'll¡¡see¡¡what
he'll¡¡do¡£¡¨
It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡hardest¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡to¡¡frighten¡¡a¡¡mongoose£»
because¡¡he¡¡is¡¡eaten¡¡up¡¡from¡¡nose¡¡to¡¡tail¡¡with¡¡curiosity¡£¡¡¡¡The
motto¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mongoose¡¡family¡¡is¡¡¡¨Run¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out£»¡¨¡¡and
Rikki¡tikki¡¡was¡¡a¡¡true¡¡mongoose¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cotton¡¡wool£»
decided¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡good¡¡to¡¡eat£»¡¡ran¡¡all¡¡round¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡sat
up¡¡and¡¡put¡¡his¡¡fur¡¡in¡¡order£»¡¡scratched¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡jumped¡¡on¡¡the
small¡¡boy's¡¡shoulder¡£
¡¨Don't¡¡be¡¡frightened£»¡¡Teddy£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡his
way¡¡of¡¡making¡¡friends¡£¡¨
¡¨Ouch£¡¡¡¡¡He's¡¡tickling¡¡under¡¡my¡¡chin£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Teddy¡£
Rikki¡tikki¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡between¡¡the¡¡boy's¡¡collar¡¡and¡¡neck£»
snuffed¡¡at¡¡his¡¡ear£»¡¡and¡¡climbed¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡sat
rubbing¡¡his¡¡nose¡£
¡¨Good¡¡gracious£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Teddy's¡¡mother£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡that's¡¡a¡¡wild
creature£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡he's¡¡so¡¡tame¡¡because¡¡we've¡¡been¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¨All¡¡mongooses¡¡are¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡her¡¡husband¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡Teddy
doesn't¡¡pick¡¡him¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡tail£»¡¡or¡¡try¡¡to¡¡put¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cage£»
he'll¡¡run¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡all¡¡day¡¡long¡£¡¡¡¡Let's¡¡give¡¡him
something¡¡to¡¡eat¡£¡¨
They¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡little¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡raw¡¡meat¡£¡¡¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡liked
it¡¡immensely£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡finished¡¡he¡¡went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the
veranda¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡¡and¡¡fluffed¡¡up¡¡his¡¡fur¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it
dry¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roots¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡better¡£
¡¨There¡¡are¡¡more¡¡things¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡about¡¡in¡¡this¡¡house£»¡¨¡¡he
said¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¨than¡¡all¡¡my¡¡family¡¡could¡¡find¡¡out¡¡in¡¡all¡¡their
lives¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡certainly¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out¡£¡¨
He¡¡spent¡¡all¡¡that¡¡day¡¡roaming¡¡over¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡nearly
drowned¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bath¡tubs£»¡¡put¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ink¡¡on¡¡a
writing¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡burned¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡man's¡¡cigar£»
for¡¡he¡¡climbed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡big¡¡man's¡¡lap¡¡to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡writing¡¡was
done¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡nightfall¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡into¡¡Teddy's¡¡nursery¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡how
kerosene¡¡lamps¡¡were¡¡lighted£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Teddy¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed
Rikki¡tikki¡¡climbed¡¡up¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡restless¡¡companion£»
because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡get¡¡up¡¡and¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡every¡¡noise¡¡all¡¡through¡¡the
night£»¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡made¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Teddy's¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡father¡¡came
in£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡thing£»¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡their¡¡boy£»¡¡and¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡was
awake¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pillow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Teddy's¡¡mother¡£
¡¨He¡¡may¡¡bite¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¨He'll¡¡do¡¡no¡¡such¡¡thing£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the
father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Teddy's¡¡safer¡¡with¡¡that¡¡little¡¡beast¡¡than¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a
bloodhound¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡a¡¡snake¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡nursery¡¡now¡¨
But¡¡Teddy's¡¡mother¡¡wouldn't¡¡think¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡so¡¡awful¡£
Early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡came¡¡to¡¡early¡¡breakfast¡¡in
the¡¡veranda¡¡riding¡¡on¡¡Teddy's¡¡shoulder£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡banana
and¡¡some¡¡boiled¡¡egg¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡all¡¡their¡¡laps¡¡one¡¡after¡¡the
other£»¡¡because¡¡every¡¡well¡brought¡up¡¡mongoose¡¡always¡¡hopes¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a
house¡¡mongoose¡¡some¡¡day¡¡and¡¡have¡¡rooms¡¡to¡¡run¡¡about¡¡in£»¡¡and
Rikki¡tikki's¡¡mother¡¡£¨she¡¡used¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general's¡¡house¡¡at
Segowlee£©¡¡had¡¡carefully¡¡told¡¡Rikki¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡if¡¡ever¡¡he¡¡came
across¡¡white¡¡men¡£
Then¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to
be¡¡seen¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡garden£»¡¡only¡¡half¡¡cultivated£»¡¡with
bushes£»¡¡as¡¡big¡¡as¡¡summer¡houses£»¡¡of¡¡Marshal¡¡Niel¡¡roses£»¡¡lime¡¡and
orange¡¡trees£»¡¡clumps¡¡of¡¡bamboos£»¡¡and¡¡thickets¡¡of¡¡high¡¡grass¡£
Rikki¡tikki¡¡licked¡¡his¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡splendid¡¡hunting¡ground£»¡¨
he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡tail¡¡grew¡¡bottle¡brushy¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and
he¡¡scuttled¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡snuffing¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡till
he¡¡heard¡¡very¡¡sorrowful¡¡voices¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thorn¡bush¡£
It¡¡was¡¡Darzee£»¡¡the¡¡Tailorbird£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a
beautiful¡¡nest¡¡by¡¡pulling¡¡two¡¡big¡¡leaves¡¡together¡¡and¡¡stitching
them¡¡up¡¡the¡¡edges¡¡with¡¡fibers£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡with
cotton¡¡and¡¡downy¡¡fluff¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡nest¡¡swayed¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡sat
on¡¡the¡¡rim¡¡and¡¡cried¡£
¡¨What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡£
¡¨We¡¡are¡¡very¡¡miserable£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Darzee¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨One¡¡of¡¡our¡¡babies¡¡fell
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nest¡¡yesterday¡¡and¡¡Nag¡¡ate¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¨H'm£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Rikki¡tikki£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡is¡¡very¡¡sadbut¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a
stranger¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡is¡¡Nag£¿¡¨
Darzee¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡only¡¡cowered¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nest¡¡without
answering£»¡¡for¡¡from¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡grass¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bush¡¡there
came¡¡a¡¡low¡¡hissa¡¡horrid¡¡cold¡¡sound¡¡that¡¡made¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡jump
back¡¡two¡¡clear¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡inch¡¡by¡¡inch¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡rose¡¡up
the¡¡head¡¡and¡¡spread¡¡hood¡¡of¡¡Nag£»¡¡the¡¡big¡¡black¡¡cobra£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was
five¡¡feet¡¡long¡¡from¡¡tongue¡¡to¡¡tail¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lifted¡¡one¡third
of¡¡himself¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡he¡¡stayed¡¡balancing¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro
exactly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dandelion¡¡tuft¡¡balances¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at
Rikki¡tikki¡¡with¡¡the¡¡wicked¡¡snake's¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡never¡¡change¡¡their
expression£»¡¡whatever¡¡the¡¡snake¡¡may¡¡be¡¡thinking¡¡of¡£
¡¨Who¡¡is¡¡Nag£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡Nag¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡God¡¡Brahm¡¡put
his¡¡mark¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡our¡¡people£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡first¡¡cobra¡¡spread¡¡his¡¡hood
to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡off¡¡Brahm¡¡as¡¡he¡¡slept¡£¡¡¡¡Look£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡afraid£¡¡¨
He¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡his¡¡hood¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ever£»¡¡and¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡saw¡¡the
spectacle¡mark¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡it¡¡that¡¡looks¡¡exactly¡¡like¡¡the¡¡eye
part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hook¡and¡eye¡¡fastening¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡for¡¡the¡¡minute£»
but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡mongoose¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡frightened¡¡for¡¡any
length¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡had¡¡never¡¡met¡¡a¡¡live¡¡cobra
before£»¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡fed¡¡him¡¡on¡¡dead¡¡ones£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡all
a¡¡grown¡¡mongoose's¡¡business¡¡in¡¡life¡¡was¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡and¡¡eat¡¡snakes¡£
Nag¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡too¡¡and£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cold¡¡heart£»¡¡he¡¡was
afraid¡£
¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Rikki¡tikki£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡tail¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fluff¡¡up
again£»¡¡¡¨marks¡¡or¡¡no¡¡marks£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡it¡¡is¡¡right¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡eat
fledglings¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nest£¿¡¨
Nag¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡least¡¡little
movement¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡behind¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡mongooses
in¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡meant¡¡death¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡family£»
but¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Rikki¡tikki¡¡off¡¡his¡¡guard¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡his
head¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡it¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side¡£
¡¨Let¡¡us¡¡talk£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡eat¡¡eggs¡£¡¡¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡not¡¡I¡¡eat
birds£¿¡¨
¡¨Behind¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡Look¡¡behind¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡sang¡¡Darzee¡£
Rikki¡tikki¡¡knew¡¡better¡¡than¡¡to¡¡waste¡¡time¡¡in¡¡staring¡£¡¡¡¡He
jumped¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡just¡¡under¡¡him
whizzed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Nagaina£»¡¡Nag's¡¡wicked¡¡wife¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡crept
up¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡talking£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡end¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡heard
her¡¡savage¡¡hiss¡¡as¡¡the¡¡stroke¡¡missed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡came¡¡down¡¡almost¡¡across
her¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡an¡¡old¡¡mongoose¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡known
that¡¡then¡¡was¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡break¡¡her¡¡back¡¡with¡¡one¡¡bite£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was
afraid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡lashing¡¡return¡¡stroke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cobra¡£¡¡¡¡He
bit£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡bite¡¡long¡¡enough£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡jumped¡¡clear¡¡of
the¡¡whisking¡¡tail£»¡¡leaving¡¡Nagaina¡¡torn¡¡and¡¡angry¡£
¡¨Wicked£»¡¡wicked¡¡Darzee£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Nag£»¡¡lashing¡¡up¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡he
could¡¡reach¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡nest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thorn¡bush¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Darzee¡¡had
built¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡snakes£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡only¡¡swayed¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡£
Rikki¡tikki¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡growing¡¡red¡¡and¡¡hot¡¡£¨when¡¡a
mongoose's¡¡eyes¡¡grow¡¡red£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡angry£©£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡on¡¡his
tail¡¡and¡¡hind¡¡legs¡¡like¡¡a¡¡little¡¡kangaroo£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡all¡¡round
him£»¡¡and¡¡chattered¡¡with¡¡rage¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Nag¡¡and¡¡Nagaina¡¡had¡¡disappeared
into¡¡the¡¡grass¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡a¡¡snake¡¡misses¡¡its¡¡stroke£»¡¡it¡¡never¡¡says
anything¡¡or¡¡gives¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡means¡¡to¡¡do¡¡next¡£
Rikki¡tikki¡¡did¡¡not¡¡care¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡feel¡¡sure
that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡manage¡¡two¡¡snakes¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡trotted¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the
gravel¡¡path¡¡near¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡think¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a
serious¡¡matter¡¡for¡¡him¡£
If¡¡you¡¡read¡¡the¡¡old¡¡books¡¡of¡¡natural¡¡history£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find
they¡¡say¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡mongoose¡¡fights¡¡the¡¡snake¡¡and¡¡happens¡¡to
get¡¡bitten£»¡¡he¡¡runs¡¡off¡¡and¡¡eats¡¡some¡¡herb¡¡that¡¡cures¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡That
is¡¡not¡¡true¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡victory¡¡is¡¡only¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡quickness¡¡of¡¡eye¡¡and
quickness¡¡of¡¡footsnake's¡¡blow¡¡against¡¡mongoose's¡¡jumpand
as¡¡no¡¡ey
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