Маугли
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Ifyoureadtheoldbooksofnaturalhistory,youwillfindtheysaythatwhenthemongoosefightsthesnakeandhappenstogetbitten,herunsoffandeatssomeherbthatcureshim.Thatisnottrue.Thevictoryisonlyamatterofquicknessofeyeandquicknessoffoot—snake’sblowagainstmongoose’sjump—andasnoeyecanfollowthemotionofasnake’sheadwhenitstrikes,thismakesthingsmuchmorewonderfulthananymagicherb.Rikki-tikkiknewhewasayoungmongoose,anditmadehimallthemorepleasedtothinkthathehadmanagedtoescapeablowfrombehind.Itgavehimconfidenceinhimself,andwhenTeddycamerunningdownthepath,Rikki-tikkiwasreadytobepetted.
ButjustasTeddywasstooping,somethingwriggledalittleinthedust,andatinyvoicesaid:"Becareful.IamDeath!"ItwasKarait,thedustybrownsnakelingthatliesforchoiceonthedustyearth;andhisbiteisasdangerousasthecobra’s.Butheissosmallthatnobodythinksofhim,andsohedoesthemoreharmtopeople.
Rikki-tikki’seyesgrewredagain,andhedanceduptoKaraitwiththepeculiarrocking,swayingmotionthathehadinheritedfromhisfamily.Itlooksveryfunny,butitissoperfectlybalancedagaitthatyoucanflyofffromitatanyangleyouplease,andindealingwithsnakesthisisanadvantage.
