Маугли

           "Whenthehouseisemptiedofpeople,"saidNagainatoherhusband,"hewillhavetogoaway,andthenthegardenwillbeourownagain.Goinquietly,andrememberthatthebigmanwhokilledKaraitisthefirstonetobite.Thencomeoutandtellme,andwewillhuntforRikki-tikkitogether."

           "Butareyousurethatthereisanythingtobegainedbykillingthepeople?"saidNag.

           "Everything.Whentherewerenopeopleinthebungalow,didwehaveanymongooseinthegarden?Solongasthebungalowisempty,wearekingandqueenofthegarden;andrememberthatassoonasoureggsinthemelonbedhatch(astheymaytomorrow),ourchildrenwillneedroomandquiet."

           "Ihadnotthoughtofthat,"saidNag."Iwillgo,butthereisnoneedthatweshouldhuntforRikki-tikkiafterward.Iwillkillthebigmanandhiswife,andthechildifIcan,andcomeawayquietly.Thenthebungalowwillbeempty,andRikki-tikkiwillgo."

           Rikki-tikkitingledalloverwithrageandhatredatthis,andthenNag’sheadcamethroughthesluice,andhisfivefeetofcoldbodyfollowedit.Angryashewas,Rikki-tikkiwasveryfrightenedashesawthesizeofthebigcobra.Nagcoiledhimselfup,raisedhishead,andlookedintothebathroominthedark,andRikkicouldseehiseyesglitter.

           "Now,ifIkillhimhere,Nagainawillknow;andifIfighthimontheopenfloor,theoddsareinhisfavor.WhatamItodo?"saidRikki-tikki-tavi.

           Nagwavedtoandfro,andthenRikki-tikkiheardhimdrinkingfromthebiggestwater-jarthatwasusedtofillthebath.