Маугли
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
"Well!Itmaybesomeconsolationtoyouwhenyou’redeadtoknowthatIshallsettleaccountswiththeboy.Myhusbandliesontherubbishheapthismorning,butbeforenighttheboyinthehousewilllieverystill.Whatistheuseofrunningaway?Iamsuretocatchyou.Littlefool,lookatme!"
Darzee’swifeknewbetterthantodothat,forabirdwholooksatasnake’seyesgetssofrightenedthatshecannotmove.Darzee’swifeflutteredon,pipingsorrowfully,andneverleavingtheground,andNagainaquickenedherpace.
Rikki-tikkiheardthemgoingupthepathfromthestables,andheracedfortheendofthemelonpatchnearthewall.There,inthewarmlitterabovethemelons,verycunninglyhidden,hefoundtwenty-fiveeggs,aboutthesizeofabantam’seggs,butwithwhitishskininsteadofshell.
"Iwasnotadaytoosoon,"hesaid,forhecouldseethebabycobrascurledupinsidetheskin,andheknewthattheminutetheywerehatchedtheycouldeachkillamanoramongoose.Hebitoffthetopsoftheeggsasfastashecould,takingcaretocrushtheyoungcobras,andturnedoverthelitterfromtimetotimetoseewhetherhehadmissedany.
