Oneday,ahighsummerfloodwashedhimoutoftheburrowwherehelivedwithhisfatherandmother,andcarriedhim,kickingandclucking,downaroadsideditch。Hefoundalittlewispofgrassfloatingthere,andclungtoittillhelosthissenses。Whenherevived,hewaslyinginthehotsunonthemiddleofagardenpath,verydraggledindeed,andasmallboywassaying,\"Here’sadeadmongoose。Let’shaveafuneral。\"
\"No,\"saidhismother,\"let’stakehiminanddryhim。
Perhapsheisn’treallydead。\"
Theytookhimintothehouse,andabigmanpickedhimupbetweenhisfingerandthumbandsaidhewasnotdeadbuthalfchoked。Sotheywrappedhimincottonwool,andwarmedhimoveralittlefire,andheopenedhiseyesandsneezed。
\"Now,\"saidthebigman(hewasanEnglishmanwhohadjustmovedintothebungalow),\"don’tfrightenhim,andwe’llseewhathe’lldo。\"
Itisthehardestthingintheworldtofrightenamongoose,becauseheiseatenupfromnosetotailwithcuriosity。Themottoofallthemongoosefamilyis\"Runandfindout,\"andRikki—tikkiwasatruemongoose。Helookedatthecottonwool,decidedthatitwasnotgoodtoeat,ranallroundthetable,satupandputhisfurinorder,scratchedhimself,andjumpedonthesmallboy’sshoulder。
\"Don’tbefrightened,Teddy,\"saidhisfather。\"That’shiswayofmakingfriends。\"
\"Ouch!He’sticklingundermychin,\"saidTeddy。
Rikki—tikkilookeddownbetweentheboy’scollarandneck,snuffedathisear,andclimbeddowntothefloor,wherehesatrubbinghisnose。
\"Goodgracious,\"saidTeddy’smother,\"andthat’sawildcreature!Isupposehe’ssotamebecausewe’vebeenkindtohim。\"
\"Allmongoosesarelikethat,\"saidherhusband。\"IfTeddydoesn’tpickhimupbythetail,ortrytoputhiminacage,he’llruninandoutofthehousealldaylong。Let’sgivehimsomethingtoeat。\"
Theygavehimalittlepieceofrawmeat。Rikki—tikkilikeditimmensely,andwhenitwasfinishedhewentoutintotheverandaandsatinthesunshineandfluffeduphisfurtomakeitdrytotheroots。Thenhefeltbetter。
\"Therearemorethingstofindoutaboutinthishouse,\"hesaidtohimself,\"thanallmyfamilycouldfindoutinalltheirlives。Ishallcertainlystayandfindout。\"
Hespentallthatdayroamingoverthehouse。Henearlydrownedhimselfinthebath—tubs,puthisnoseintotheinkonawritingtable,andburneditontheendofthebigman’scigar,forheclimbedupinthebigman’slaptoseehowwritingwasdone。AtnightfallheranintoTeddy’snurserytowatchhowkerosenelampswerelighted,andwhenTeddywenttobedRikki—tikkiclimbeduptoo。Buthewasarestlesscompanion,becausehehadtogetupandattendtoeverynoiseallthroughthenight,andfindoutwhatmadeit。Teddy’smotherandfathercamein,thelastthing,tolookattheirboy,andRikki—tikkiwasawakeonthepillow。\"Idon’tlikethat,\"saidTeddy’smother。
\"Hemaybitethechild。\"\"He’lldonosuchthing,\"saidthefather。\"Teddy’ssaferwiththatlittlebeastthanifhehadabloodhoundtowatchhim。Ifasnakecameintothenurserynow——\"
ButTeddy’smotherwouldn’tthinkofanythingsoawful。
EarlyinthemorningRikki—tikkicametoearlybreakfastintheverandaridingonTeddy’sshoulder,andtheygavehimbananaandsomeboiledegg。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。TheninchbyinchoutofthegrassroseuptheheadandspreadhoodofNag,thebigblackcobra,andhewasfivefeetlongfromtonguetotail。Whenhehadliftedone—thirdofhimselfclearoftheground,hestayedbalancingtoandfroexactlyasadandeliontuftbalancesinthewind,andhelookedatRikki—tikkiwiththewickedsnake’seyesthatneverchangetheirexpression,whateverthesnakemaybethinkingof。
\"WhoisNag?\"saidhe。\"IamNag。ThegreatGodBrahmputhismarkuponallourpeople,whenthefirstcobraspreadhishoodtokeepthesunoffBrahmasheslept。Look,andbeafraid!\"
Hespreadouthishoodmorethanever,andRikki—tikkisawthespectacle—markonthebackofitthatlooksexactlyliketheeyepartofahook—and—eyefastening。Hewasafraidfortheminute,butitisimpossibleforamongoosetostayfrightenedforanylengthoftime,andthoughRikki—tikkihadnevermetalivecobrabefore,hismotherhadfedhimondeadones,andheknewthatallagrownmongoose’sbusinessinlifewastofightandeatsnakes。
Nagknewthattooand,atthebottomofhiscoldheart,hewasafraid。
\"Well,\"saidRikki—tikki,andhistailbegantofluffupagain,\"marksornomarks,doyouthinkitisrightforyoutoeatfledglingsoutofanest?\"
Nagwasthinkingtohimself,andwatchingtheleastlittlemovementinthegrassbehindRikki—tikki。Heknewthatmongoosesinthegardenmeantdeathsoonerorlaterforhimandhisfamily,buthewantedtogetRikki—tikkioffhisguard。Sohedroppedhisheadalittle,andputitononeside。
\"Letustalk,\"hesaid。\"Youeateggs。WhyshouldnotIeatbirds?\"
\"Behindyou!Lookbehindyou!\"sangDarzee。
Rikki—tikkiknewbetterthantowastetimeinstaring。Hejumpedupintheairashighashecouldgo,andjustunderhimwhizzedbytheheadofNagaina,Nag’swickedwife。Shehadcreptupbehindhimashewastalking,tomakeanendofhim。Heheardhersavagehissasthestrokemissed。Hecamedownalmostacrossherback,andifhehadbeenanoldmongoosehewouldhaveknownthatthenwasthetimetobreakherbackwithonebite;buthewasafraidoftheterriblelashingreturnstrokeofthecobra。Hebit,indeed,butdidnotbitelongenough,andhejumpedclearofthewhiskingtail,leavingNagainatornandangry。
\"Wicked,wickedDarzee!\"saidNag,lashingupashighashecouldreachtowardthenestinthethorn—bush。ButDarzeehadbuiltitoutofreachofsnakes,anditonlyswayedtoandfro。
Rikki—tikkifelthiseyesgrowingredandhot(whenamongoose’seyesgrowred,heisangry),andhesatbackonhistailandhindlegslikealittlekangaroo,andlookedallroundhim,andchatteredwithrage。ButNagandNagainahaddisappearedintothegrass。Whenasnakemissesitsstroke,itneversaysanythingorgivesanysignofwhatitmeanstodonext。
Rikki—tikkididnotcaretofollowthem,forhedidnotfeelsurethathecouldmanagetwosnakesatonce。Sohetrottedofftothegravelpathnearthehouse,andsatdowntothink。Itwasaseriousmatterforhim。
Ifyoureadtheoldbooksofnaturalhistory,youwillfindtheysaythatwhenthemongoosefightsthesnakeandhappenstogetbitten,herunsoffandeatssomeherbthatcureshim。Thatisnottrue。Thevictoryisonlyamatterofquicknessofeyeandquicknessoffoot——snake’sblowagainstmongoose’sjump——andasnoeyecanfollowthemotionofasnake’sheadwhenitstrikes,thismakesthingsmuchmorewonderfulthananymagicherb。
Rikki—tikkiknewhewasayoungmongoose,anditmadehimallthemorepleasedtothinkthathehadmanagedtoescapeablowfrombehind。Itgavehimconfidenceinhimself,andwhenTeddycamerunningdownthepath,Rikki—tikkiwasreadytobepetted。
ButjustasTeddywasstooping,somethingwriggledalittleinthedust,andatinyvoicesaid:\"Becareful。IamDeath!\"ItwasKarait,thedustybrownsnakelingthatliesforchoiceonthedustyearth;andhisbiteisasdangerousasthecobra’s。Butheissosmallthatnobodythinksofhim,andsohedoesthemoreharmtopeople。
Rikki—tikki’seyesgrewredagain,andhedanceduptoKaraitwiththepeculiarrocking,swayingmotionthathehadinheritedfromhisfamily。Itlooksveryfunny,butitissoperfectlybalancedagaitthatyoucanflyofffromitatanyangleyouplease,andindealingwithsnakesthisisanadvantage。IfRikki—tikkihadonlyknown,hewasdoingamuchmoredangerousthingthanfightingNag,forKaraitissosmall,andcanturnsoquickly,thatunlessRikkibithimclosetothebackofthehead,hewouldgetthereturnstrokeinhiseyeorhislip。ButRikkididnotknow。Hiseyeswereallred,andherockedbackandforth,lookingforagoodplacetohold。Karaitstruckout。
Rikkijumpedsidewaysandtriedtorunin,butthewickedlittledustygrayheadlashedwithinafractionofhisshoulder,andhehadtojumpoverthebody,andtheheadfollowedhisheelsclose。
Teddyshoutedtothehouse:\"Oh,lookhere!Ourmongooseiskillingasnake。\"AndRikki—tikkiheardascreamfromTeddy’smother。Hisfatherranoutwithastick,butbythetimehecameup,Karaithadlungedoutoncetoofar,andRikki—tikkihadsprung,jumpedonthesnake’sback,droppedhisheadfarbetweenhisforelegs,bittenashighupthebackashecouldgethold,androlledaway。ThatbiteparalyzedKarait,andRikki—tikkiwasjustgoingtoeathimupfromthetail,afterthecustomofhisfamilyatdinner,whenherememberedthatafullmealmakesaslowmongoose,andifhewantedallhisstrengthandquicknessready,hemustkeephimselfthin。
Hewentawayforadustbathunderthecastor—oilbushes,whileTeddy’sfatherbeatthedeadKarait。\"Whatistheuseofthat?\"thoughtRikki—tikki。\"Ihavesettleditall;\"andthenTeddy’smotherpickedhimupfromthedustandhuggedhim,cryingthathehadsavedTeddyfromdeath,andTeddy’sfathersaidthathewasaprovidence,andTeddylookedonwithbigscaredeyes。
Rikki—tikkiwasratheramusedatallthefuss,which,ofcourse,hedidnotunderstand。Teddy’smothermightjustaswellhavepettedTeddyforplayinginthedust。Rikkiwasthoroughlyenjoyinghimself。
Thatnightatdinner,walkingtoandfroamongthewine—glassesonthetable,hemighthavestuffedhimselfthreetimesoverwithnicethings。ButherememberedNagandNagaina,andthoughitwasverypleasanttobepattedandpettedbyTeddy’smother,andtositonTeddy’sshoulder,hiseyeswouldgetredfromtimetotime,andhewouldgooffintohislongwarcryof\"Rikk—tikk—tikki—tikki—tchk!\"
Teddycarriedhimofftobed,andinsistedonRikki—tikkisleepingunderhischin。Rikki—tikkiwastoowellbredtobiteorscratch,butassoonasTeddywasasleephewentoffforhisnightlywalkroundthehouse,andinthedarkheranupagainstChuchundra,themusk—rat,creepingaroundbythewall。Chuchundraisabroken—heartedlittlebeast。Hewhimpersandcheepsallthenight,tryingtomakeuphismindtorunintothemiddleoftheroom。Buthenevergetsthere。
\"Don’tkillme,\"saidChuchundra,almostweeping。
\"Rikki—tikki,don’tkillme!\"
\"Doyouthinkasnake—killerkillsmuskrats?\"saidRikki—tikkiscornfully。
\"Thosewhokillsnakesgetkilledbysnakes,\"saidChuchundra,moresorrowfullythanever。\"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;I
shouldhavetalkedtoChua。\"
HestoleofftoTeddy’sbath—room,buttherewasnothingthere,andthentoTeddy’smother’sbathroom。Atthebottomofthesmoothplasterwalltherewasabrickpulledouttomakeasluiceforthebathwater,andasRikki—tikkistoleinbythemasonrycurbwherethebathisput,heheardNagandNagainawhisperingtogetheroutsideinthemoonlight。
\"Whenthehouseisemptiedofpeople,\"saidNagainatoherhusband,\"hewillhavetogoaway,andthenthegardenwillbeourownagain。Goinquietly,andrememberthatthebigmanwhokilledKaraitisthefirstonetobite。Thencomeoutandtellme,andwewillhuntforRikki—tikkitogether。\"
\"Butareyousurethatthereisanythingtobegainedbykillingthepeople?\"saidNag。
\"Everything。Whentherewerenopeopleinthebungalow,didwehaveanymongooseinthegarden?Solongasthebungalowisempty,wearekingandqueenofthegarden;andrememberthatassoonasoureggsinthemelonbedhatch(astheymaytomorrow),ourchildrenwillneedroomandquiet。\"
\"Ihadnotthoughtofthat,\"saidNag。\"Iwillgo,butthereisnoneedthatweshouldhuntforRikki—tikkiafterward。Iwillkillthebigmanandhiswife,andthechildifIcan,andcomeawayquietly。Thenthebungalowwillbeempty,andRikki—tikkiwillgo。\"
Rikki—tikkitingledalloverwithrageandhatredatthis,andthenNag’sheadcamethroughthesluice,andhisfivefeetofcoldbodyfollowedit。Angryashewas,Rikki—tikkiwasveryfrightenedashesawthesizeofthebigcobra。Nagcoiledhimselfup,raisedhishead,andlookedintothebathroominthedark,andRikkicouldseehiseyesglitter。
\"Now,ifIkillhimhere,Nagainawillknow;andifIfighthimontheopenfloor,theoddsareinhisfavor。WhatamItodo?\"saidRikki—tikki—tavi。
Nagwavedtoandfro,andthenRikki—tikkiheardhimdrinkingfromthebiggestwater—jarthatwasusedtofillthebath。\"Thatisgood,\"saidthesnake。\"Now,whenKaraitwaskilled,thebigmanhadastick。Hemayhavethatstickstill,butwhenhecomesintobatheinthemorninghewillnothaveastick。Ishallwaitheretillhecomes。Nagaina——doyouhearme?——Ishallwaithereinthecooltilldaytime。\"
Therewasnoanswerfromoutside,soRikki—tikkiknewNagainahadgoneaway。Nagcoiledhimselfdown,coilbycoil,roundthebulgeatthebottomofthewaterjar,andRikki—tikkistayedstillasdeath。Afteranhourhebegantomove,musclebymuscle,towardthejar。Nagwasasleep,andRikki—tikkilookedathisbigback,wonderingwhichwouldbethebestplaceforagoodhold。
\"IfIdon’tbreakhisbackatthefirstjump,\"saidRikki,\"hecanstillfight。Andifhefights——ORikki!\"Helookedatthethicknessoftheneckbelowthehood,butthatwastoomuchforhim;andabitenearthetailwouldonlymakeNagsavage。
\"Itmustbethehead\"’hesaidatlast;\"theheadabovethehood。And,whenIamoncethere,Imustnotletgo。\"
Thenhejumped。Theheadwaslyingalittleclearofthewaterjar,underthecurveofit;and,ashisteethmet,Rikkibracedhisbackagainstthebulgeoftheredearthenwaretoholddownthehead。Thisgavehimjustonesecond’spurchase,andhemadethemostofit。Thenhewasbatteredtoandfroasaratisshakenbyadog——toandfroonthefloor,upanddown,andaroundingreatcircles,buthiseyeswereredandheheldonasthebodycart—whippedoverthefloor,upsettingthetindipperandthesoapdishandthefleshbrush,andbangedagainstthetinsideofthebath。Asheheldheclosedhisjawstighterandtighter,forhemadesurehewouldbebangedtodeath,and,forthehonorofhisfamily,hepreferredtobefoundwithhisteethlocked。Hewasdizzy,aching,andfeltshakentopieceswhensomethingwentofflikeathunderclapjustbehindhim。Ahotwindknockedhimsenselessandredfiresingedhisfur。Thebigmanhadbeenwakenedbythenoise,andhadfiredbothbarrelsofashotgunintoNagjustbehindthehood。
Rikki—tikkiheldonwithhiseyesshut,fornowhewasquitesurehewasdead。Buttheheaddidnotmove,andthebigmanpickedhimupandsaid,\"It’sthemongooseagain,Alice。Thelittlechaphassavedourlivesnow。\"
ThenTeddy’smothercameinwithaverywhiteface,andsawwhatwasleftofNag,andRikki—tikkidraggedhimselftoTeddy’sbedroomandspenthalftherestofthenightshakinghimselftenderlytofindoutwhetherhereallywasbrokenintofortypieces,ashefancied。
Whenmorningcamehewasverystiff,butwellpleasedwithhisdoings。\"NowIhaveNagainatosettlewith,andshewillbeworsethanfiveNags,andthere’snoknowingwhentheeggsshespokeofwillhatch。Goodness!ImustgoandseeDarzee,\"hesaid。
Withoutwaitingforbreakfast,Rikki—tikkirantothethornbushwhereDarzeewassingingasongoftriumphatthetopofhisvoice。ThenewsofNag’sdeathwasalloverthegarden,forthesweeperhadthrownthebodyontherubbish—heap。
\"Oh,youstupidtuftoffeathers!\"saidRikki—tikkiangrily。
\"Isthisthetimetosing?\"
\"Nagisdead——isdead——isdead!\"sangDarzee。\"ThevaliantRikki—tikkicaughthimbytheheadandheldfast。Thebigmanbroughtthebang—stick,andNagfellintwopieces!Hewillnevereatmybabiesagain。\"
\"Allthat’strueenough。Butwhere’sNagaina?\"saidRikki—tikki,lookingcarefullyroundhim。
\"NagainacametothebathroomsluiceandcalledforNag,\"
Darzeewenton,\"andNagcameoutontheendofastick——thesweeperpickedhimupontheendofastickandthrewhimupontherubbishheap。Letussingaboutthegreat,thered—eyedRikki—tikki!\"AndDarzeefilledhisthroatandsang。
\"IfIcouldgetuptoyournest,I’drollyourbabiesout!\"
saidRikki—tikki。\"Youdon’tknowwhentodotherightthingattherighttime。You’resafeenoughinyournestthere,butit’swarformedownhere。Stopsingingaminute,Darzee。\"
\"Forthegreat,thebeautifulRikki—tikki’ssakeIwillstop,\"
saidDarzee。\"Whatisit,OKilleroftheterribleNag?\"
\"WhereisNagaina,forthethirdtime?\"
\"Ontherubbishheapbythestables,mourningforNag。GreatisRikki—tikkiwiththewhiteteeth。\"
\"Bothermywhiteteeth!Haveyoueverheardwhereshekeepshereggs?\"
\"Inthemelonbed,ontheendnearestthewall,wherethesunstrikesnearlyallday。Shehidthemthereweeksago。\"
\"Andyouneverthoughtitworthwhiletotellme?Theendnearestthewall,yousaid?\"
\"Rikki—tikki,youarenotgoingtoeathereggs?\"
\"Noteatexactly;no。Darzee,ifyouhaveagrainofsenseyouwillflyofftothestablesandpretendthatyourwingisbroken,andletNagainachaseyouawaytothisbush。Imustgettothemelon—bed,andifIwenttherenowshe’dseeme。\"
Darzeewasafeather—brainedlittlefellowwhocouldneverholdmorethanoneideaatatimeinhishead。AndjustbecauseheknewthatNagaina’schildrenwerebornineggslikehisown,hedidn’tthinkatfirstthatitwasfairtokillthem。Buthiswifewasasensiblebird,andsheknewthatcobra’seggsmeantyoungcobraslateron。Sosheflewofffromthenest,andleftDarzeetokeepthebabieswarm,andcontinuehissongaboutthedeathofNag。Darzeewasverylikeamaninsomeways。
SheflutteredinfrontofNagainabytherubbishheapandcriedout,\"Oh,mywingisbroken!Theboyinthehousethrewastoneatmeandbrokeit。\"Thensheflutteredmoredesperatelythanever。
Nagainaliftedupherheadandhissed,\"YouwarnedRikki—tikkiwhenIwouldhavekilledhim。Indeedandtruly,you’vechosenabadplacetobelamein。\"AndshemovedtowardDarzee’swife,slippingalongoverthedust。
\"Theboybrokeitwithastone!\"shriekedDarzee’swife。
\"Well!Itmaybesomeconsolationtoyouwhenyou’redeadtoknowthatIshallsettleaccountswiththeboy。Myhusbandliesontherubbishheapthismorning,butbeforenighttheboyinthehousewilllieverystill。Whatistheuseofrunningaway?Iamsuretocatchyou。Littlefool,lookatme!\"
Darzee’swifeknewbetterthantodothat,forabirdwholooksatasnake’seyesgetssofrightenedthatshecannotmove。
Darzee’swifeflutteredon,pipingsorrowfully,andneverleavingtheground,andNagainaquickenedherpace。
Rikki—tikkiheardthemgoingupthepathfromthestables,andheracedfortheendofthemelonpatchnearthewall。There,inthewarmlitterabovethemelons,verycunninglyhidden,hefoundtwenty—fiveeggs,aboutthesizeofabantam’seggs,butwithwhitishskininsteadofshell。
\"Iwasnotadaytoosoon,\"hesaid,forhecouldseethebabycobrascurledupinsidetheskin,andheknewthattheminutetheywerehatchedtheycouldeachkillamanoramongoose。Hebitoffthetopsoftheeggsasfastashecould,takingcaretocrushtheyoungcobras,andturnedoverthelitterfromtimetotimetoseewhetherhehadmissedany。Atlasttherewereonlythreeeggsleft,andRikki—tikkibegantochuckletohimself,whenheheardDarzee’swifescreaming:
\"Rikki—tikki,IledNagainatowardthehouse,andshehasgoneintotheveranda,and——oh,comequickly——shemeanskilling!\"
Rikki—tikkismashedtwoeggs,andtumbledbackwarddownthemelon—bedwiththethirdegginhismouth,andscuttledtotheverandaashardashecouldputfoottotheground。Teddyandhismotherandfatherwerethereatearlybreakfast,butRikki—tikkisawthattheywerenoteatinganything。Theysatstone—still,andtheirfaceswerewhite。NagainawascoileduponthemattingbyTeddy’schair,withineasystrikingdistanceofTeddy’sbareleg,andshewasswayingtoandfro,singingasongoftriumph。
\"SonofthebigmanthatkilledNag,\"shehissed,\"staystill。
Iamnotreadyyet。Waitalittle。Keepverystill,allyouthree!IfyoumoveIstrike,andifyoudonotmoveIstrike。
Oh,foolishpeople,whokilledmyNag!\"
Teddy’seyeswerefixedonhisfather,andallhisfathercoulddowastowhisper,\"Sitstill,Teddy。Youmustn’tmove。
Teddy,keepstill。\"
ThenRikki—tikkicameupandcried,\"Turnround,Nagaina。
Turnandfight!\"
\"Allingoodtime,\"saidshe,withoutmovinghereyes。\"I
willsettlemyaccountwithyoupresently。Lookatyourfriends,Rikki—tikki。Theyarestillandwhite。Theyareafraid。Theydarenotmove,andifyoucomeastepnearerIstrike。\"
\"Lookatyoureggs,\"saidRikki—tikki,\"inthemelonbednearthewall。Goandlook,Nagaina!\"
Thebigsnaketurnedhalfaround,andsawtheeggontheveranda。\"Ah—h!Giveittome,\"shesaid。
Rikki—tikkiputhispawsoneoneachsideoftheegg,andhiseyeswereblood—red。\"Whatpriceforasnake’segg?Forayoungcobra?Forayoungkingcobra?Forthelast——theverylastofthebrood?Theantsareeatingalltheothersdownbythemelonbed。\"
Nagainaspunclearround,forgettingeverythingforthesakeoftheoneegg。Rikki—tikkisawTeddy’sfathershootoutabighand,catchTeddybytheshoulder,anddraghimacrossthelittletablewiththetea—cups,safeandoutofreachofNagaina。
\"Tricked!Tricked!Tricked!Rikk—tck—tck!\"chuckledRikki—tikki。\"Theboyissafe,anditwasI——I——IthatcaughtNagbythehoodlastnightinthebathroom。\"Thenhebegantojumpupanddown,allfourfeettogether,hisheadclosetothefloor。\"Hethrewmetoandfro,buthecouldnotshakemeoff。
Hewasdeadbeforethebigmanblewhimintwo。Ididit!
Rikki—tikki—tck—tck!Comethen,Nagaina。Comeandfightwithme。
Youshallnotbeawidowlong。\"
NagainasawthatshehadlostherchanceofkillingTeddy,andtheegglaybetweenRikki—tikki’spaws。\"Givemetheegg,Rikki—tikki。Givemethelastofmyeggs,andIwillgoawayandnevercomeback,\"shesaid,loweringherhood。
\"Yes,youwillgoaway,andyouwillnevercomeback。ForyouwillgototherubbishheapwithNag。Fight,widow!Thebigmanhasgoneforhisgun!Fight!\"
Rikki—tikkiwasboundingallroundNagaina,keepingjustoutofreachofherstroke,hislittleeyeslikehotcoals。Nagainagatheredherselftogetherandflungoutathim。Rikki—tikkijumpedupandbackward。Againandagainandagainshestruck,andeachtimeherheadcamewithawhackonthemattingoftheverandaandshegatheredherselftogetherlikeawatchspring。ThenRikki—tikkidancedinacircletogetbehindher,andNagainaspunroundtokeepherheadtohishead,sothattherustleofhertailonthemattingsoundedlikedryleavesblownalongbythewind。
Hehadforgottentheegg。Itstilllayontheveranda,andNagainacamenearerandnearertoit,tillatlast,whileRikki—tikkiwasdrawingbreath,shecaughtitinhermouth,turnedtotheverandasteps,andflewlikeanarrowdownthepath,withRikki—tikkibehindher。Whenthecobrarunsforherlife,shegoeslikeawhip—lashflickedacrossahorse’sneck。
Rikki—tikkiknewthathemustcatchher,orallthetroublewouldbeginagain。Sheheadedstraightforthelonggrassbythethorn—bush,andashewasrunningRikki—tikkiheardDarzeestillsinginghisfoolishlittlesongoftriumph。ButDarzee’swifewaswiser。SheflewoffhernestasNagainacamealong,andflappedherwingsaboutNagaina’shead。IfDarzeehadhelpedtheymighthaveturnedher,butNagainaonlyloweredherhoodandwenton。
Still,theinstant’sdelaybroughtRikki—tikkiuptoher,andassheplungedintotherat—holewheresheandNagusedtolive,hislittlewhiteteethwereclenchedonhertail,andhewentdownwithher——andveryfewmongooses,howeverwiseandoldtheymaybe,caretofollowacobraintoitshole。Itwasdarkinthehole;andRikki—tikkineverknewwhenitmightopenoutandgiveNagainaroomtoturnandstrikeathim。Heheldonsavagely,andstuckouthisfeettoactasbrakesonthedarkslopeofthehot,moistearth。
Thenthegrassbythemouthoftheholestoppedwaving,andDarzeesaid,\"ItisalloverwithRikki—tikki!Wemustsinghisdeathsong。ValiantRikki—tikkiisdead!ForNagainawillsurelykillhimunderground。\"
Sohesangaverymournfulsongthathemadeuponthespuroftheminute,andjustashegottothemosttouchingpart,thegrassquiveredagain,andRikki—tikki,coveredwithdirt,draggedhimselfoutoftheholelegbyleg,lickinghiswhiskers。Darzeestoppedwithalittleshout。Rikki—tikkishooksomeofthedustoutofhisfurandsneezed。\"Itisallover,\"hesaid。\"Thewidowwillnevercomeoutagain。\"Andtheredantsthatlivebetweenthegrassstemsheardhim,andbegantotroopdownoneafteranothertoseeifhehadspokenthetruth。
Rikki—tikkicurledhimselfupinthegrassandsleptwherehewas——sleptandslepttillitwaslateintheafternoon,forhehaddoneahardday’swork。
\"Now,\"hesaid,whenheawoke,\"Iwillgobacktothehouse。
TelltheCoppersmith,Darzee,andhewilltellthegardenthatNagainaisdead。\"
TheCoppersmithisabirdwhomakesanoiseexactlylikethebeatingofalittlehammeronacopperpot;andthereasonheisalwaysmakingitisbecauseheisthetowncriertoeveryIndiangarden,andtellsallthenewstoeverybodywhocarestolisten。
AsRikki—tikkiwentupthepath,heheardhis\"attention\"noteslikeatinydinnergong,andthenthesteady\"Ding—dong—tock!Nagisdead——dong!Nagainaisdead!Ding—dong—tock!\"Thatsetallthebirdsinthegardensinging,andthefrogscroaking,forNagandNagainausedtoeatfrogsaswellaslittlebirds。
WhenRikkigottothehouse,TeddyandTeddy’smother(shelookedverywhitestill,forshehadbeenfainting)andTeddy’sfathercameoutandalmostcriedoverhim;andthatnightheateallthatwasgivenhimtillhecouldeatnomore,andwenttobedonTeddy’sshoulder,whereTeddy’smothersawhimwhenshecametolooklateatnight。
\"HesavedourlivesandTeddy’slife,\"shesaidtoherhusband。\"Justthink,hesavedallourlives。\"
Rikki—tikkiwokeupwithajump,forthemongoosesarelightsleepers。
\"Oh,it’syou,\"saidhe。\"Whatareyoubotheringfor?Allthecobrasaredead。Andiftheyweren’t,I’mhere。\"
Rikki—tikkihadarighttobeproudofhimself。Buthedidnotgrowtooproud,andhekeptthatgardenasamongooseshouldkeepit,withtoothandjumpandspringandbite,tillneveracobradaredshowitsheadinsidethewalls。
Darzee’sChant(SunginhonorofRikki—tikki—tavi)
SingerandtailoramI——
DoubledthejoysthatIknow——
Proudofmylilttothesky,ProudofthehousethatIsew——
Overandunder,soweaveImymusic——soweaveIthehousethatI
sew。
Singtoyourfledglingsagain,Mother,ohliftupyourhead!
Evilthatplaguedusisslain,Deathinthegardenliesdead。
Terrorthathidintherosesisimpotent——flungonthedung—hillanddead!
Whohasdeliveredus,who?
Tellmehisnestandhisname。
Rikki,thevaliant,thetrue,Tikki,witheyeballsofflame,Rikk—tikki—tikki,theivory—fanged,thehunterwitheyeballsofflame!
GivehimtheThanksoftheBirds,Bowingwithtailfeathersspread!
Praisehimwithnightingalewords——
Nay,Iwillpraisehiminstead。
Hear!Iwillsingyouthepraiseofthebottle—tailedRikki,witheyeballsofred!
(HereRikki—tikkiinterrupted,andtherestofthesongislost。)
ToomaioftheElephantsIwillrememberwhatIwas,Iamsickofropeandchain——
Iwillremembermyoldstrengthandallmyforestaffairs。
Iwillnotsellmybacktomanforabundleofsugar—cane:
Iwillgoouttomyownkind,andthewood—folkintheirlairs。
Iwillgooutuntiltheday,untilthemorningbreak——
Outtothewind’suntaintedkiss,thewater’scleancaress;
Iwillforgetmyankle—ringandsnapmypicketstake。
Iwillrevisitmylostloves,andplaymatesmasterless!
KalaNag,whichmeansBlackSnake,hadservedtheIndianGovernmentineverywaythatanelephantcouldserveitforforty—sevenyears,andashewasfullytwentyyearsoldwhenhewascaught,thatmakeshimnearlyseventy——aripeageforanelephant。Herememberedpushing,withabigleatherpadonhisforehead,atagunstuckindeepmud,andthatwasbeforetheAfghanWarof1842,andhehadnotthencometohisfullstrength。
HismotherRadhaPyari,——Radhathedarling,——whohadbeencaughtinthesamedrivewithKalaNag,toldhim,beforehislittlemilktuskshaddroppedout,thatelephantswhowereafraidalwaysgothurt。KalaNagknewthatthatadvicewasgood,forthefirsttimethathesawashellbursthebacked,screaming,intoastandofpiledrifles,andthebayonetsprickedhiminallhissoftestplaces。So,beforehewastwenty—five,hegaveupbeingafraid,andsohewasthebest—lovedandthebest—looked—afterelephantintheserviceoftheGovernmentofIndia。Hehadcarriedtents,twelvehundredpounds’weightoftents,onthemarchinUpperIndia。Hehadbeenhoistedintoashipattheendofasteamcraneandtakenfordaysacrossthewater,andmadetocarryamortaronhisbackinastrangeandrockycountryveryfarfromIndia,andhadseentheEmperorTheodorelyingdeadinMagdala,andhadcomebackagaininthesteamerentitled,sothesoldierssaid,totheAbyssinianWarmedal。HehadseenhisfellowelephantsdieofcoldandepilepsyandstarvationandsunstrokeupataplacecalledAliMusjid,tenyearslater;andafterwardhehadbeensentdownthousandsofmilessouthtohaulandpilebigbalksofteakinthetimberyardsatMoulmein。Therehehadhalfkilledaninsubordinateyoungelephantwhowasshirkinghisfairshareofwork。
Afterthathewastakenofftimber—hauling,andemployed,withafewscoreotherelephantswhoweretrainedtothebusiness,inhelpingtocatchwildelephantsamongtheGarohills。ElephantsareverystrictlypreservedbytheIndianGovernment。Thereisonewholedepartmentwhichdoesnothingelsebuthuntthem,andcatchthem,andbreakthemin,andsendthemupanddownthecountryastheyareneededforwork。
KalaNagstoodtenfairfeetattheshoulders,andhistuskshadbeencutoffshortatfivefeet,andboundroundtheends,topreventthemsplitting,withbandsofcopper;buthecoulddomorewiththosestumpsthananyuntrainedelephantcoulddowiththerealsharpenedones。When,afterweeksandweeksofcautiousdrivingofscatteredelephantsacrossthehills,thefortyorfiftywildmonstersweredrivenintothelaststockade,andthebigdropgate,madeoftreetrunkslashedtogether,jarreddownbehindthem,KalaNag,atthewordofcommand,wouldgointothatflaring,trumpetingpandemonium(generallyatnight,whentheflickerofthetorchesmadeitdifficulttojudgedistances),and,pickingoutthebiggestandwildesttuskerofthemob,wouldhammerhimandhustlehimintoquietwhilethemenonthebacksoftheotherelephantsropedandtiedthesmallerones。
TherewasnothinginthewayoffightingthatKalaNag,theoldwiseBlackSnake,didnotknow,forhehadstoodupmorethanonceinhistimetothechargeofthewoundedtiger,and,curlinguphissofttrunktobeoutofharm’sway,hadknockedthespringingbrutesidewaysinmid—airwithaquicksicklecutofhishead,thathehadinventedallbyhimself;hadknockedhimover,andkneeleduponhimwithhishugekneestillthelifewentoutwithagaspandahowl,andtherewasonlyafluffystripedthingonthegroundforKalaNagtopullbythetail。
\"Yes,\"saidBigToomai,hisdriver,thesonofBlackToomaiwhohadtakenhimtoAbyssinia,andgrandsonofToomaioftheElephantswhohadseenhimcaught,\"thereisnothingthattheBlackSnakefearsexceptme。Hehasseenthreegenerationsofusfeedhimandgroomhim,andhewilllivetoseefour。\"
\"Heisafraidofmealso,\"saidLittleToomai,standinguptohisfullheightoffourfeet,withonlyoneraguponhim。Hewastenyearsold,theeldestsonofBigToomai,and,accordingtocustom,hewouldtakehisfather’splaceonKalaNag’sneckwhenhegrewup,andwouldhandletheheavyironankus,theelephantgoad,thathadbeenwornsmoothbyhisfather,andhisgrandfather,andhisgreat—grandfather。
Heknewwhathewastalkingof;forhehadbeenbornunderKalaNag’sshadow,hadplayedwiththeendofhistrunkbeforehecouldwalk,hadtakenhimdowntowaterassoonashecouldwalk,andKalaNagwouldnomorehavedreamedofdisobeyinghisshrilllittleordersthanhewouldhavedreamedofkillinghimonthatdaywhenBigToomaicarriedthelittlebrownbabyunderKalaNag’stusks,andtoldhimtosalutehismasterthatwastobe。
\"Yes,\"saidLittleToomai,\"heisafraidofme,\"andhetooklongstridesuptoKalaNag,calledhimafatoldpig,andmadehimliftuphisfeetoneaftertheother。
\"Wah!\"saidLittleToomai,\"thouartabigelephant,\"andhewaggedhisfluffyhead,quotinghisfather。\"TheGovernmentmaypayforelephants,buttheybelongtousmahouts。Whenthouartold,KalaNag,therewillcomesomerichrajah,andhewillbuytheefromtheGovernment,onaccountofthysizeandthymanners,andthenthouwilthavenothingtodobuttocarrygoldearringsinthyears,andagoldhowdahonthyback,andaredclothcoveredwithgoldonthysides,andwalkattheheadoftheprocessionsoftheKing。ThenIshallsitonthyneck,OKalaNag,withasilverankus,andmenwillrunbeforeuswithgoldensticks,crying,`RoomfortheKing’selephant!’Thatwillbegood,KalaNag,butnotsogoodasthishuntinginthejungles。\"
\"Umph!\"saidBigToomai。\"Thouartaboy,andaswildasabuffalo—calf。ThisrunningupanddownamongthehillsisnotthebestGovernmentservice。Iamgettingold,andIdonotlovewildelephants。Givemebrickelephantlines,onestalltoeachelephant,andbigstumpstotiethemtosafely,andflat,broadroadstoexerciseupon,insteadofthiscome—and—gocamping。Aha,theCawnporebarracksweregood。Therewasabazaarcloseby,andonlythreehours’workaday。\"
LittleToomairememberedtheCawnporeelephant—linesandsaidnothing。Heverymuchpreferredthecamplife,andhatedthosebroad,flatroads,withthedailygrubbingforgrassintheforagereserve,andthelonghourswhentherewasnothingtodoexcepttowatchKalaNagfidgetinginhispickets。
WhatLittleToomailikedwastoscrambleupbridlepathsthatonlyanelephantcouldtake;thedipintothevalleybelow;theglimpsesofthewildelephantsbrowsingmilesaway;therushofthefrightenedpigandpeacockunderKalaNag’sfeet;theblindingwarmrains,whenallthehillsandvalleyssmoked;thebeautifulmistymorningswhennobodyknewwheretheywouldcampthatnight;
thesteady,cautiousdriveofthewildelephants,andthemadrushandblazeandhullabalooofthelastnight’sdrive,whentheelephantspouredintothestockadelikebouldersinalandslide,foundthattheycouldnotgetout,andflungthemselvesattheheavypostsonlytobedrivenbackbyyellsandflaringtorchesandvolleysofblankcartridge。
Evenalittleboycouldbeofusethere,andToomaiwasasusefulasthreeboys。Hewouldgethistorchandwaveit,andyellwiththebest。Butthereallygoodtimecamewhenthedrivingoutbegan,andtheKeddah——thatis,thestockade——
lookedlikeapictureoftheendoftheworld,andmenhadtomakesignstooneanother,becausetheycouldnothearthemselvesspeak。ThenLittleToomaiwouldclimbuptothetopofoneofthequiveringstockadeposts,hissun—bleachedbrownhairflyingloosealloverhisshoulders,andhelookinglikeagoblininthetorch—light。Andassoonastherewasalullyoucouldhearhishigh—pitchedyellsofencouragementtoKalaNag,abovethetrumpetingandcrashing,andsnappingofropes,andgroansofthetetheredelephants。\"Mael,mael,KalaNag!(Goon,goon,BlackSnake!)Dantdo!(Givehimthetusk!)Somalo!Somalo!
(Careful,careful!)Maro!Mar!(Hithim,hithim!)Mindthepost!Arre!Arre!Hai!Yai!Kya—a—ah!\"hewouldshout,andthebigfightbetweenKalaNagandthewildelephantwouldswaytoandfroacrosstheKeddah,andtheoldelephantcatcherswouldwipethesweatoutoftheireyes,andfindtimetonodtoLittleToomaiwrigglingwithjoyonthetopoftheposts。
Hedidmorethanwriggle。Onenighthesliddownfromthepostandslippedinbetweentheelephantsandthrewupthelooseendofarope,whichhaddropped,toadriverwhowastryingtogetapurchaseonthelegofakickingyoungcalf(calvesalwaysgivemoretroublethanfull—grownanimals)。KalaNagsawhim,caughthiminhistrunk,andhandedhimuptoBigToomai,whoslappedhimthenandthere,andputhimbackonthepost。
Nextmorninghegavehimascoldingandsaid,\"Arenotgoodbrickelephantlinesandalittletentcarryingenough,thatthoumustneedsgoelephantcatchingonthyownaccount,littleworthless?Nowthosefoolishhunters,whosepayislessthanmypay,havespokentoPetersenSahibofthematter。\"LittleToomaiwasfrightened。Hedidnotknowmuchofwhitemen,butPetersenSahibwasthegreatestwhitemanintheworldtohim。HewastheheadofalltheKeddahoperations——themanwhocaughtalltheelephantsfortheGovernmentofIndia,andwhoknewmoreaboutthewaysofelephantsthananylivingman。
\"What——whatwillhappen?\"saidLittleToomai。
\"Happen!Theworstthatcanhappen。PetersenSahibisamadman。Elsewhyshouldhegohuntingthesewilddevils?Hemayevenrequiretheetobeanelephantcatcher,tosleepanywhereinthesefever—filledjungles,andatlasttobetrampledtodeathintheKeddah。Itiswellthatthisnonsenseendssafely。Nextweekthecatchingisover,andweoftheplainsaresentbacktoourstations。Thenwewillmarchonsmoothroads,andforgetallthishunting。But,son,IamangrythatthoushouldstmeddleinthebusinessthatbelongstothesedirtyAssamesejunglefolk。KalaNagwillobeynonebutme,soImustgowithhimintotheKeddah,butheisonlyafightingelephant,andhedoesnothelptoropethem。SoIsitatmyease,asbefitsamahout,——notamerehunter,——amahout,Isay,andamanwhogetsapensionattheendofhisservice。IsthefamilyofToomaioftheElephantstobetroddenunderfootinthedirtofaKeddah?Badone!Wickedone!Worthlessson!GoandwashKalaNagandattendtohisears,andseethattherearenothornsinhisfeet。OrelsePetersenSahibwillsurelycatchtheeandmaketheeawildhunter——afollowerofelephant’sfoottracks,ajunglebear。Bah!Shame!
Go!\"
LittleToomaiwentoffwithoutsayingaword,buthetoldKalaNagallhisgrievanceswhilehewasexamininghisfeet。\"Nomatter,\"saidLittleToomai,turningupthefringeofKalaNag’shugerightear。\"TheyhavesaidmynametoPetersenSahib,andperhaps——andperhaps——andperhaps——whoknows?Hai!ThatisabigthornthatIhavepulledout!\"
Thenextfewdayswerespentingettingtheelephantstogether,inwalkingthenewlycaughtwildelephantsupanddownbetweenacoupleoftameonestopreventthemgivingtoomuchtroubleonthedownwardmarchtotheplains,andintakingstockoftheblanketsandropesandthingsthathadbeenwornoutorlostintheforest。
PetersenSahibcameinonhisclevershe—elephantPudmini;hehadbeenpayingoffothercampsamongthehills,fortheseasonwascomingtoanend,andtherewasanativeclerksittingatatableunderatree,topaythedriverstheirwages。Aseachmanwaspaidhewentbacktohiselephant,andjoinedthelinethatstoodreadytostart。Thecatchers,andhunters,andbeaters,themenoftheregularKeddah,whostayedinthejungleyearinandyearout,satonthebacksoftheelephantsthatbelongedtoPetersenSahib’spermanentforce,orleanedagainstthetreeswiththeirgunsacrosstheirarms,andmadefunofthedriverswhoweregoingaway,andlaughedwhenthenewlycaughtelephantsbrokethelineandranabout。
BigToomaiwentuptotheclerkwithLittleToomaibehindhim,andMachuaAppa,theheadtracker,saidinanundertonetoafriendofhis,\"Theregoesonepieceofgoodelephantstuffatleast。’Tisapitytosendthatyoungjungle—cocktomoltintheplains。\"
NowPetersenSahibhadearsalloverhim,asamanmusthavewholistenstothemostsilentofalllivingthings——thewildelephant。HeturnedwherehewaslyingallalongonPudmini’sbackandsaid,\"Whatisthat?Ididnotknowofamanamongtheplains—driverswhohadwitenoughtoropeevenadeadelephant。\"
\"Thisisnotaman,butaboy。HewentintotheKeddahatthelastdrive,andthrewBarmaotheretherope,whenweweretryingtogetthatyoungcalfwiththeblotchonhisshoulderawayfromhismother。\"
MachuaAppapointedatLittleToomai,andPetersenSahiblooked,andLittleToomaibowedtotheearth。
\"Hethrowarope?Heissmallerthanapicket—pin。Littleone,whatisthyname?\"saidPetersenSahib。
LittleToomaiwastoofrightenedtospeak,butKalaNagwasbehindhim,andToomaimadeasignwithhishand,andtheelephantcaughthimupinhistrunkandheldhimlevelwithPudmini’sforehead,infrontofthegreatPetersenSahib。ThenLittleToomaicoveredhisfacewithhishands,forhewasonlyachild,andexceptwhereelephantswereconcerned,hewasjustasbashfulasachildcouldbe。
\"Oho!\"saidPetersenSahib,smilingunderneathhismustache,\"andwhydidstthouteachthyelephantthattrick?Wasittohelptheestealgreencornfromtheroofsofthehouseswhentheearsareputouttodry?\"
\"Notgreencorn,ProtectorofthePoor,——melons,\"saidLittleToomai,andallthemensittingaboutbrokeintoaroaroflaughter。Mostofthemhadtaughttheirelephantsthattrickwhentheywereboys。LittleToomaiwashangingeightfeetupintheair,andhewishedverymuchthathewereeightfeetunderground。
\"HeisToomai,myson,Sahib,\"saidBigToomai,scowling。\"Heisaverybadboy,andhewillendinajail,Sahib。\"
\"OfthatIhavemydoubts,\"saidPetersenSahib。\"AboywhocanfaceafullKeddahathisagedoesnotendinjails。See,littleone,herearefourannastospendinsweetmeatsbecausethouhastalittleheadunderthatgreatthatchofhair。Intimethoumayestbecomeahuntertoo。\"BigToomaiscowledmorethanever。\"Remember,though,thatKeddahsarenotgoodforchildrentoplayin,\"PetersenSahibwenton。
\"MustInevergothere,Sahib?\"askedLittleToomaiwithabiggasp。
\"Yes。\"PetersenSahibsmiledagain。\"Whenthouhastseentheelephantsdance。Thatisthepropertime。Cometomewhenthouhastseentheelephantsdance,andthenIwilllettheegointoalltheKeddahs。\"
Therewasanotherroaroflaughter,forthatisanoldjokeamongelephant—catchers,anditmeansjustnever。Therearegreatclearedflatplaceshiddenawayintheforeststhatarecalledelephants’ball—rooms,buteventheseareonlyfoundbyaccident,andnomanhaseverseentheelephantsdance。Whenadriverboastsofhisskillandbraverytheotherdriverssay,\"Andwhendidstthouseetheelephantsdance?\"
KalaNagputLittleToomaidown,andhebowedtotheearthagainandwentawaywithhisfather,andgavethesilverfour—annapiecetohismother,whowasnursinghisbabybrother,andtheyallwereputuponKalaNag’sback,andthelineofgrunting,squealingelephantsrolleddownthehillpathtotheplains。Itwasaverylivelymarchonaccountofthenewelephants,whogavetroubleateveryford,andneededcoaxingorbeatingeveryotherminute。
BigToomaiproddedKalaNagspitefully,forhewasveryangry,butLittleToomaiwastoohappytospeak。PetersenSahibhadnoticedhim,andgivenhimmoney,sohefeltasaprivatesoldierwouldfeelifhehadbeencalledoutoftheranksandpraisedbyhiscommander—in—chief。
\"WhatdidPetersenSahibmeanbytheelephantdance?\"hesaid,atlast,softlytohismother。
BigToomaiheardhimandgrunted。\"Thatthoushouldstneverbeoneofthesehillbuffaloesoftrackers。Thatwaswhathemeant。Oh,youinfront,whatisblockingtheway?\"
AnAssamesedriver,twoorthreeelephantsahead,turnedroundangrily,crying:\"BringupKalaNag,andknockthisyoungsterofmineintogoodbehavior。WhyshouldPetersenSahibhavechosenmetogodownwithyoudonkeysofthericefields?Layyourbeastalongside,Toomai,andlethimprodwithhistusks。ByalltheGodsoftheHills,thesenewelephantsarepossessed,orelsetheycansmelltheircompanionsinthejungle。\"KalaNaghitthenewelephantintheribsandknockedthewindoutofhim,asBigToomaisaid,\"Wehavesweptthehillsofwildelephantsatthelastcatch。Itisonlyyourcarelessnessindriving。MustIkeeporderalongthewholeline?\"
\"Hearhim!\"saidtheotherdriver。\"Wehavesweptthehills!
Ho!Ho!Youareverywise,youplainspeople。Anyonebutamud—headwhoneversawthejunglewouldknowthattheyknowthatthedrivesareendedfortheseason。Thereforeallthewildelephantsto—nightwill——butwhyshouldIwastewisdomonariver—turtle?\"
\"Whatwilltheydo?\"LittleToomaicalledout。
\"Ohe,littleone。Artthouthere?Well,Iwilltellthee,forthouhastacoolhead。Theywilldance,anditbehoovesthyfather,whohassweptallthehillsofalltheelephants,todouble—chainhispicketsto—night。\"
\"Whattalkisthis?\"saidBigToomai。\"Forfortyyears,fatherandson,wehavetendedelephants,andwehaveneverheardsuchmoonshineaboutdances。\"
\"Yes;butaplainsmanwholivesinahutknowsonlythefourwallsofhishut。Well,leavethyelephantsunshackledtonightandseewhatcomes。Asfortheirdancing,Ihaveseentheplacewhere——Bapree—bap!HowmanywindingshastheDihangRiver?
Hereisanotherford,andwemustswimthecalves。Stopstill,youbehindthere。\"
Andinthisway,talkingandwranglingandsplashingthroughtherivers,theymadetheirfirstmarchtoasortofreceivingcampforthenewelephants。Buttheylosttheirtemperslongbeforetheygotthere。
Thentheelephantswerechainedbytheirhindlegstotheirbigstumpsofpickets,andextraropeswerefittedtothenewelephants,andthefodderwaspiledbeforethem,andthehilldriverswentbacktoPetersenSahibthroughtheafternoonlight,tellingtheplainsdriverstobeextracarefulthatnight,andlaughingwhentheplainsdriversaskedthereason。
LittleToomaiattendedtoKalaNag’ssupper,andaseveningfell,wanderedthroughthecamp,unspeakablyhappy,insearchofatom—tom。WhenanIndianchild’sheartisfull,hedoesnotrunaboutandmakeanoiseinanirregularfashion。Hesitsdowntoasortofrevelallbyhimself。AndLittleToomaihadbeenspokentobyPetersenSahib!Ifhehadnotfoundwhathewanted,I
believehewouldhavebeenill。Butthesweetmeatsellerinthecamplenthimalittletom—tom——adrumbeatenwiththeflatofthehand——andhesatdown,cross—legged,beforeKalaNagasthestarsbegantocomeout,thetom—tominhislap,andhethumpedandhethumpedandhethumped,andthemorehethoughtofthegreathonorthathadbeendonetohim,themorehethumped,allaloneamongtheelephantfodder。Therewasnotuneandnowords,butthethumpingmadehimhappy。
Thenewelephantsstrainedattheirropes,andsquealedandtrumpetedfromtimetotime,andhecouldhearhismotherinthecamphutputtinghissmallbrothertosleepwithanold,oldsongaboutthegreatGodShiv,whooncetoldalltheanimalswhattheyshouldeat。Itisaverysoothinglullaby,andthefirstversesays:
Shiv,whopouredtheharvestandmadethewindstoblow,Sittingatthedoorwaysofadayoflongago,Gavetoeachhisportion,foodandtoilandfate,FromtheKingupontheguddeetotheBeggaratthegate。
Allthingsmadehe——ShivathePreserver。
Mahadeo!Mahadeo!Hemadeall——
Thornforthecamel,fodderforthekine,Andmother’sheartforsleepyhead,Olittlesonofmine!
LittleToomaicameinwithajoyoustunk—a—tunkattheendofeachverse,tillhefeltsleepyandstretchedhimselfonthefodderatKalaNag’sside。Atlasttheelephantsbegantoliedownoneafteranotherasistheircustom,tillonlyKalaNagattherightofthelinewasleftstandingup;andherockedslowlyfromsidetoside,hisearsputforwardtolistentothenightwindasitblewveryslowlyacrossthehills。Theairwasfullofallthenightnoisesthat,takentogether,makeonebigsilence——
theclickofonebamboostemagainsttheother,therustleofsomethingaliveintheundergrowth,thescratchandsquawkofahalf—wakedbird(birdsareawakeinthenightmuchmoreoftenthanweimagine),andthefallofwatereversofaraway。LittleToomaisleptforsometime,andwhenhewakeditwasbrilliantmoonlight,andKalaNagwasstillstandingupwithhisearscocked。LittleToomaiturned,rustlinginthefodder,andwatchedthecurveofhisbigbackagainsthalfthestarsinheaven,andwhilehewatchedheheard,sofarawaythatitsoundednomorethanapinholeofnoiseprickedthroughthestillness,the\"hoot—toot\"ofawildelephant。
Alltheelephantsinthelinesjumpedupasiftheyhadbeenshot,andtheirgruntsatlastwakedthesleepingmahouts,andtheycameoutanddroveinthepicketpegswithbigmallets,andtightenedthisropeandknottedthattillallwasquiet。Onenewelephanthadnearlygrubbeduphispicket,andBigToomaitookoffKalaNag’slegchainandshackledthatelephantfore—foottohind—foot,butslippedaloopofgrassstringroundKalaNag’sleg,andtoldhimtorememberthathewastiedfast。Heknewthatheandhisfatherandhisgrandfatherhaddonetheverysamethinghundredsoftimesbefore。KalaNagdidnotanswertotheorderbygurgling,asheusuallydid。Hestoodstill,lookingoutacrossthemoonlight,hisheadalittleraisedandhisearsspreadlikefans,uptothegreatfoldsoftheGarohills。
\"Tendtohimifhegrowsrestlessinthenight,\"saidBigToomaitoLittleToomai,andhewentintothehutandslept。
LittleToomaiwasjustgoingtosleep,too,whenheheardthecoirstringsnapwithalittle\"tang,\"andKalaNagrolledoutofhispicketsasslowlyandassilentlyasacloudrollsoutofthemouthofavalley。LittleToomaipatteredafterhim,barefooted,downtheroadinthemoonlight,callingunderhisbreath,\"KalaNag!KalaNag!Takemewithyou,OKalaNag!\"Theelephantturned,withoutasound,tookthreestridesbacktotheboyinthemoonlight,putdownhistrunk,swunghimuptohisneck,andalmostbeforeLittleToomaihadsettledhisknees,slippedintotheforest。
Therewasoneblastoffurioustrumpetingfromthelines,andthenthesilenceshutdownoneverything,andKalaNagbegantomove。Sometimesatuftofhighgrasswashedalonghissidesasawavewashesalongthesidesofaship,andsometimesaclusterofwild—peppervineswouldscrapealonghisback,orabamboowouldcreakwherehisshouldertouchedit。Butbetweenthosetimeshemovedabsolutelywithoutanysound,driftingthroughthethickGaroforestasthoughithadbeensmoke。Hewasgoinguphill,butthoughLittleToomaiwatchedthestarsintheriftsofthetrees,hecouldnottellinwhatdirection。