Мауглі
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
"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.