Мауглі
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Hesatonalltheirlapsoneaftertheother,becauseeverywell-brought-upmongoosealwayshopestobeahousemongoosesomedayandhaveroomstorunaboutin;andRikki-tikki’smother(sheusedtoliveinthegeneral’shouseatSegowlee)hadcarefullytoldRikkiwhattodoifeverhecameacrosswhitemen.
ThenRikki-tikkiwentoutintothegardentoseewhatwastobeseen.Itwasalargegarden,onlyhalfcultivated,withbushes,asbigassummer-houses,ofMarshalNielroses,limeandorangetrees,clumpsofbamboos,andthicketsofhighgrass.Rikki-tikkilickedhislips."Thisisasplendidhunting-ground,"hesaid,andhistailgrewbottle-brushyatthethoughtofit,andhescuttledupanddownthegarden,snuffinghereandtheretillheheardverysorrowfulvoicesinathorn-bush.
ItwasDarzee,theTailorbird,andhiswife.Theyhadmadeabeautifulnestbypullingtwobigleavestogetherandstitchingthemuptheedgeswithfibers,andhadfilledthehollowwithcottonanddownyfluff.Thenestswayedtoandfro,astheysatontherimandcried.
"Whatisthematter?"askedRikki-tikki.
"Weareverymiserable,"saidDarzee."OneofourbabiesfelloutofthenestyesterdayandNagatehim."
"H’m!"saidRikki-tikki,"thatisverysad—butIamastrangerhere.WhoisNag?"
Darzeeandhiswifeonlycowereddowninthenestwithoutanswering,forfromthethickgrassatthefootofthebushtherecamealowhiss—ahorridcoldsoundthatmadeRikki-tikkijumpbacktwoclearfeet.