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‘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 dog. |
This is from “Rikki Tikki Tavi” in The Jungle Book. Rikki is a young mongoose, exploring the world, who finds himself in the over-grown garden of a big old bungalow. He makes friends with the family who have just moved in. As is his nature he makes war on the two great cobras who live there. Here he is attacking Nag, the male. Later he will face Nagaina, the female, just as big, and just as deadly. |
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