Маугли
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
"Letustalk,"hesaid."Youeateggs.WhyshouldnotIeatbirds?"
"Behindyou!Lookbehindyou!"sangDarzee.
Rikki-tikkiknewbetterthantowastetimeinstaring.Hejumpedupintheairashighashecouldgo,andjustunderhimwhizzedbytheheadofNagaina,Nag’swickedwife.Shehadcreptupbehindhimashewastalking,tomakeanendofhim.Heheardhersavagehissasthestrokemissed.Hecamedownalmostacrossherback,andifhehadbeenanoldmongoosehewouldhaveknownthatthenwasthetimetobreakherbackwithonebite;buthewasafraidoftheterriblelashingreturnstrokeofthecobra.Hebit,indeed,butdidnotbitelongenough,andhejumpedclearofthewhiskingtail,leavingNagainatornandangry.
"Wicked,wickedDarzee!"saidNag,lashingupashighashecouldreachtowardthenestinthethorn-bush.ButDarzeehadbuiltitoutofreachofsnakes,anditonlyswayedtoandfro.
Rikki-tikkifelthiseyesgrowingredandhot(whenamongoose’seyesgrowred,heisangry),andhesatbackonhistailandhindlegslikealittlekangaroo,andlookedallroundhim,andchatteredwithrage.ButNagandNagainahaddisappearedintothegrass.Whenasnakemissesitsstroke,itneversaysanythingorgivesanysignofwhatitmeanstodonext.Rikki-tikkididnotcaretofollowthem,forhedidnotfeelsurethathecouldmanagetwosnakesatonce.Sohetrottedofftothegravelpathnearthehouse,andsatdowntothink.Itwasaseriousmatterforhim.
