Маугли

           "AndhowamItobesurethatNagwon’tmistakemeforyousomedarknight?"

           "There’snottheleastdanger,"saidRikki-tikki."ButNagisinthegarden,andIknowyoudon’tgothere."

           "MycousinChua,therat,toldme—"saidChuchundra,andthenhestopped.

           "Toldyouwhat?"

           "H’sh!Nagiseverywhere,Rikki-tikki.YoushouldhavetalkedtoChuainthegarden."

           "Ididn’t—soyoumusttellme.Quick,Chuchundra,orI’llbiteyou!"

           Chuchundrasatdownandcriedtillthetearsrolledoffhiswhiskers."Iamaverypoorman,"hesobbed."Ineverhadspiritenoughtorunoutintothemiddleoftheroom.H’sh!Imustn’ttellyouanything.Can’tyouhear,Rikki-tikki?"

           Rikki-tikkilistened.Thehousewasasstillasstill,buthethoughthecouldjustcatchthefaintestscratch-scratchintheworld—anoiseasfaintasthatofawaspwalkingonawindow-pane—thedryscratchofasnake’sscalesonbrick-work.

           "That’sNagorNagaina,"hesaidtohimself,"andheiscrawlingintothebath-roomsluice.You’reright,Chuchundra;IshouldhavetalkedtoChua."

           HestoleofftoTeddy’sbath-room,buttherewasnothingthere,andthentoTeddy’smother’sbathroom.Atthebottomofthesmoothplasterwalltherewasabrickpulledouttomakeasluiceforthebathwater,andasRikki-tikkistoleinbythemasonrycurbwherethebathisput,heheardNagandNagainawhisperingtogetheroutsideinthemoonlight.