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〃Rikki…tikki； don't kill me！〃
〃Do you think a snake…killer kills muskrats？〃 said Rikki…tikki
scornfully。
〃Those who kill snakes get killed by snakes；〃 said Chuchundra；
more sorrowfully than ever。 〃And how am I to be sure that Nag
won't mistake me for you some dark night？〃
〃There's not the least danger；〃 said Rikki…tikki。 〃But Nag is
in the garden； and I know you don't go there。〃
〃My cousin Chua； the rat； told me〃 said Chuchundra； and
then he stopped。
〃Told you what？〃
〃H'sh！ Nag is everywhere； Rikki…tikki。 You should have
talked to Chua in the garden。〃
〃I didn'tso you must tell me。 Quick； Chuchundra； or I'll
bite you！〃
Chuchundra sat down and cried till the tears rolled off his
whiskers。 〃I am a very poor man；〃 he sobbed。 〃I never had spirit
enough to run out into the middle of the room。 H'sh！ I mustn't
tell you anything。 Can't you hear； Rikki…tikki？〃
Rikki…tikki listened。 The house was as still as still； but he
thought he could just catch the faintest scratch…scratch in the
worlda noise as faint as that of a wasp walking on a
window…panethe dry scratch of a snake's scales on brick…work。
〃That's Nag or Nagaina；〃 he said to himself； 〃and he is
crawling into the bath…room sluice。 You're right； Chuchundra； I
should have talked to Chua。〃
He stole off to Teddy's bath…room； but there was nothing
there； and then to Teddy's mother's bathroom。 At the bottom of
the smooth plaster wall there was a brick pulled out to make a
sluice for the bath water； and as Rikki…tikki stole in by the
masonry curb where the bath is put； he heard Nag and Nagaina
whispering together outside in the moonlight。
〃When the house is emptied of people；〃 said Nagaina to her
husband； 〃he will have to go away； and then the garden will be our
own again。 Go in quietly； and remember that the big man who
killed Karait is the first one to bite。 Then come out and tell
me； and we will hunt for Rikki…tikki together。〃
〃But are you sure that there is anything to be gained by
killing the people？〃 said Nag。
〃Everything。 When there were no people in the bungalow； did
we have any mongoose in the garden？ So long as the bungalow is
empty； we are king and queen of the garden； and remember that as
soon as our eggs in the melon bed hatch （as they may tomorrow）；
our children will need room and quiet。〃
〃I had not thought of that；〃 said Nag。 〃I will go； but there
is no need that we should hunt for Rikki…tikki afterward。 I will
kill the big man and his wife； and the child if I can； and come
away quietly。 Then the bungalow will be empty； and Rikki…tikki
will go。〃
Rikki…tikki tingled all over with rage and hatred at this； and
then Nag's head came through the sluice； and his five feet of cold
body followed it。 Angry as he was； Rikki…tikki was very
frightened as he saw the size of the big cobra。 Nag coiled
himself up； raised his head； and looked into the bathroom in the
dark； and Rikki could see his eyes glitter。
〃Now； if I kill him here； Nagaina will know； and if I fight
him on the open floor； the odds are in his favor。 What am I to
do？〃 said Rikki…tikki…tavi。
Nag waved to and fro； and then Rikki…tikki heard him drinking
from the biggest water…jar that was used to fill the bath。 〃That
is good；〃 said the snake。 〃Now； when Karait was killed； the big
man had a stick。 He may have that stick still； but when he comes
in to bathe in the morning he will not have a stick。 I shall wait
here till he comes。 Nagainado you hear me？I shall wait
here in the cool till daytime。〃
There was no answer from outside； so Rikki…tikki knew Nagaina
had gone away。 Nag coiled himself down； coil by coil； round the
bulge at the bottom of the water jar； and Rikki…tikki stayed still
as death。 After an hour he began to move； muscle by muscle；
toward the jar。 Nag was asleep； and Rikki…tikki looked at his big
back； wondering which would be the best place for a good hold。
〃If I don't break his back at the first jump；〃 said Rikki； 〃he can
still fight。 And if he fightsO Rikki！〃 He looked at the
thickness of the neck below the hood； but that was too much for
him； and a bite near the tail would only make Nag savage。
〃It must be the head〃' he said at last； 〃the head above the
hood。 And； when I am once there； I must not let go。〃
Then he jumped。 The head was lying a little clear of the
water jar； under the curve of it； and； as his teeth met； Rikki
braced his back against the bulge of the red earthenware to hold
down the head。 This gave him just one second's purchase； and he
made the most of it。 Then he was battered to and fro as a rat is
shaken by a dogto and fro on the floor； up and down； and
around in great circles； but his eyes were red and he held on as
the body cart…whipped over the floor； upsetting the tin dipper and
the soap dish and the flesh brush； and banged against the tin side
of the bath。 As he held he closed his jaws tighter and tighter；
for he made sure he would be banged to death； and； for the honor
of his family； he preferred to be found with his teeth locked。 He
was dizzy； aching； and felt shaken to pieces when something went
off like a thunderclap just behind him。 A hot wind knocked him
senseless and red fire singed his fur。 The big man had been
wakened by the noise； and had fired both barrels of a shotgun into
Nag just behind the hood。
Rikki…tikki held on with his eyes shut； for now he was quite
sure he was dead。 But the head did not move； and the big man
picked him up and said； 〃It's the mongoose again； Alice。 The
little chap has saved our lives now。〃
Then Teddy's mother came in with a very white face； and saw
what was left of Nag； and Rikki…tikki dragged himself to Teddy's
bedroom and spent half the rest of the night shaking himself
tenderly to find out whether he really was broken into forty
pieces； as he fancied。
When morning came he was very stiff； but well pleased with his
doings。 〃Now I have Nagaina to settle with； and she will be worse
than five Nags； and there's no knowing when the eggs she spoke of
will hatch。 Goodness！ I must go and see Darzee；〃 he said。
Without waiting for breakfast； Rikki…tikki ran to the
thornbush where Darzee was singing a song of triumph at the top of
his voice。 The news of Nag's death was all over the garden； for
the sweeper had thrown the body on the rubbish…heap。
〃Oh； you stupid tuft of feathers！〃 said Rikki…tikki angrily。
〃Is this the time to sing？〃
〃Nag is deadis deadis dead！〃 sang Darzee。 〃The
valiant Rikki…tikki caught him by the head and held fast。 The big
man brought the bang…stick； and Nag fell in two pieces！ He will
never eat my babies again。〃
〃All that's true enough。 But where's Nagaina？〃 said
Rikki…tikki； looking carefully round him。
〃Nagaina came to the bathroom sluice and called for Nag；〃
Darzee went on； 〃and Nag came out on the end of a stickthe
swee