Маугли

           Hesatonalltheirlapsoneaftertheother,becauseeverywell-brought-upmongoosealwayshopestobeahousemongoosesomedayandhaveroomstorunaboutin;andRikki-tikki’smother(sheusedtoliveinthegeneral’shouseatSegowlee)hadcarefullytoldRikkiwhattodoifeverhecameacrosswhitemen.

           ThenRikki-tikkiwentoutintothegardentoseewhatwastobeseen.Itwasalargegarden,onlyhalfcultivated,withbushes,asbigassummer-houses,ofMarshalNielroses,limeandorangetrees,clumpsofbamboos,andthicketsofhighgrass.Rikki-tikkilickedhislips."Thisisasplendidhunting-ground,"hesaid,andhistailgrewbottle-brushyatthethoughtofit,andhescuttledupanddownthegarden,snuffinghereandtheretillheheardverysorrowfulvoicesinathorn-bush.

           ItwasDarzee,theTailorbird,andhiswife.Theyhadmadeabeautifulnestbypullingtwobigleavestogetherandstitchingthemuptheedgeswithfibers,andhadfilledthehollowwithcottonanddownyfluff.Thenestswayedtoandfro,astheysatontherimandcried.

           "Whatisthematter?"askedRikki-tikki.

           "Weareverymiserable,"saidDarzee."OneofourbabiesfelloutofthenestyesterdayandNagatehim."

           "H’m!"saidRikki-tikki,"thatisverysad—butIamastrangerhere.WhoisNag?"

           Darzeeandhiswifeonlycowereddowninthenestwithoutanswering,forfromthethickgrassatthefootofthebushtherecamealowhiss—ahorridcoldsoundthatmadeRikki-tikkijumpbacktwoclearfeet.