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when he remembered that a full meal makes a slow mongoose, and if he wanted all his strength and quickness ready, he must keep himself thin. He went away for a dust-bath under the castor-oil bushes, while Teddys father beat the dead Karait. What is the use of that? thought Rikki-tikki. I have settled it all, and then Teddys mother picked him up from the dust and hugged him, crying that he had saved Teddy from death, and Teddys father said that he was a providence, and Teddy looked on with big scared eyes. Rikki-tikki was rather amused at all the fuss, which, of course, he did not understand. Teddys mother might just as well have petted Teddy for playing in the dust. Rikki was thoroughly enjoying himself. That night, at dinner, walking to and fro among the wine-glasses on the table, he could have stuffed himself three times over with nice things; but he remembered Nag and Nagaina, and though it was very pleasant to be patted and petted by Teddys mother, and to sit on Teddys shoulder, his eyes would get red from time to time, and he would go off into his long war-cry of, Rikk-tikk-tikki-tchk! Teddy carried him off to bed, and insisted on Rikki-tikki sleeping under his chin. Rikki-tikki was too well- bred to bite or scratch, but as soon as Teddy was asleep he went off for his nightly walk round the house, and in the dark he ran up against Chuchundra the musk-rat, creeping round by the wall. Chuchundra is a broken-hearted little beast. He whimpers and cheeps all the night, trying to make up his mind to run into the middle of the room, but he never gets there. Dont kill me, said Chuchundra, almost weeping. Rikki-tikki, dont kill me. Do you think a snake-killer kills musk-rats? 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 wont mistake me for you some dark night? Theres not the least danger, said Rikki-tikki. But Nag is in the garden, and I know you dont go there. My cousin Chua, the rat, told me said Chuchundra, and then he stopped. Told you what? Hsh! Nag is everywhere, Rikki-tikki. You should have talked to Chua in the garden. I didntso you must tell me. Quick, Chuchundra, or Ill 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. Hsh! I mustnt tell you anything. Cant 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-pane-the dry scratch of a snakes scales on brickwork. Thats Nag or Nagaina, he said to himself, and he is crawling into the bathroom sluice. Youre right, Chuchundra; I should have talked to Chua. He stole off to Teddys bathroom, but there was nothing there, and then to Teddys mothers bathroom. At the bottom of the smooth plaster wall there was a brick pulled out to make a sluice for the bathwater, 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. |
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