09-rikki-tikki-tavi-第2章

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balanced　a　gait　that　you　can　fly　off　from　it　at　any　angle　you

please；　and　in　dealing　with　snakes　this　is　an　advantage。　　If

Rikki…tikki　had　only　known；　he　was　doing　a　much　more　dangerous

thing　than　fighting　Nag；　for　Karait　is　so　small；　and　can　turn　so

quickly；　that　unless　Rikki　bit　him　close　to　the　back　of　the　head；

he　would　get　the　return　stroke　in　his　eye　or　his　lip。　　But　Rikki

did　not　know。　　His　eyes　were　all　red；　and　he　rocked　back　and

forth；　looking　for　a　good　place　to　hold。　　Karait　struck　out。

Rikki　jumped　sideways　and　tried　to　run　in；　but　the　wicked　little

dusty　gray　head　lashed　within　a　fraction　of　his　shoulder；　and　he

had　to　jump　over　the　body；　and　the　head　followed　his　heels　close。



Teddy　shouted　to　the　house：　〃Oh；　look　here！　　Our　mongoose　is

killing　a　snake。〃　　And　Rikki…tikki　heard　a　scream　from　Teddy's

mother。　　His　father　ran　out　with　a　stick；　but　by　the　time　he　came

up；　Karait　had　lunged　out　once　too　far；　and　Rikki…tikki　had

sprung；　jumped　on　the　snake's　back；　dropped　his　head　far　between

his　forelegs；　bitten　as　high　up　the　back　as　he　could　get　hold；　and

rolled　away。　　That　bite　paralyzed　Karait；　and　Rikki…tikki　was　just

going　to　eat　him　up　from　the　tail；　after　the　custom　of　his　family

at　dinner；　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　Teddy's　father　beat　the　dead　Karait。　　〃What　is　the　use　of

that？〃　thought　Rikki…tikki。　　〃I　have　settled　it　all；〃　and　then

Teddy's　mother　picked　him　up　from　the　dust　and　hugged　him；　crying

that　he　had　saved　Teddy　from　death；　and　Teddy's　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。　　Teddy's　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　might　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　Teddy's

mother；　and　to　sit　on　Teddy's　shoulder；　his　eyes　would　get　red

from　time　to　time；　and　he　would　go　off　into　his　long　war　cry　of

〃Rikk…tikk…tikki…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　around　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。



〃Don't　kill　me；〃　said　Chuchundra；　almost　weeping。

〃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

sweeper　picked　him　up　on　the　end　of　a　stick　and　threw　him　upon　the

rubbish　heap。　　Let　us　sing　about　the　great；　the　red…eyed

Rikki…tikki！〃　　And　Darzee　filled　his　throat　and　sang。



〃If　I　could　get　up　to　your　nest；　I'd　roll　your　babies　out！〃

said　Rikki…tikki。　　〃You　don't　know　when　to　do　the　right　thing　at

the　right　time。　　You're　safe　enough　in　your　nest　there；　but　it's

war　for　me　down　here。　　Stop　singing　a　minute；　Darzee。〃



〃For　the　great；　the　beautiful　Rikki…tikki's　sake　I　will　stop；〃

said　Darzee。　　〃What　is　it；　O　Killer　of　the　terrible　Nag？〃



〃Where　is　Nagaina；　for　the　third　time？〃



〃On　the　rubbish　heap　by　the　stables；　mourning　for　Nag。　　Great

is　Rikki…tikki　with　the　white　teeth。〃



〃Bother　my　white　teeth！　　Have　you　ever　heard　where　she　keeps

her　eggs？〃



〃In　the　melon　bed；　on　the　end　nearest　the　wall；　where　the　sun

strikes　nearly　all　day。　　She　hid　them　there　weeks　ago。〃



〃And　you　never　thought　it　worth　while　to　tell　me？　　The　end

nearest　the　wall；　you　said？〃



〃Rik