Мауглі

           "No,"saidhismother,"let’stakehiminanddryhim.Perhapsheisn’treallydead."

           Theytookhimintothehouse,andabigmanpickedhimupbetweenhisfingerandthumbandsaidhewasnotdeadbuthalfchoked.Sotheywrappedhimincottonwool,andwarmedhimoveralittlefire,andheopenedhiseyesandsneezed.

           "Now,"saidthebigman(hewasanEnglishmanwhohadjustmovedintothebungalow),"don’tfrightenhim,andwe’llseewhathe’lldo."

           Itisthehardestthingintheworldtofrightenamongoose,becauseheiseatenupfromnosetotailwithcuriosity.Themottoofallthemongoosefamilyis"Runandfindout,"andRikki-tikkiwasatruemongoose.Helookedatthecottonwool,decidedthatitwasnotgoodtoeat,ranallroundthetable,satupandputhisfurinorder,scratchedhimself,andjumpedonthesmallboy’sshoulder.

           "Don’tbefrightened,Teddy,"saidhisfather."That’shiswayofmakingfriends."

           "Ouch!He’sticklingundermychin,"saidTeddy.

           Rikki-tikkilookeddownbetweentheboy’scollarandneck,snuffedathisear,andclimbeddowntothefloor,wherehesatrubbinghisnose.

           "Goodgracious,"saidTeddy’smother,"andthat’sawildcreature!Isupposehe’ssotamebecausewe’vebeenkindtohim."

           "Allmongoosesarelikethat,"saidherhusband."IfTeddydoesn’tpickhimupbythetail,ortrytoputhiminacage,he’llruninandoutofthehousealldaylong.Let’sgivehimsomethingtoeat."

           Theygavehimalittlepieceofrawmeat.