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 dead--is dead--is 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 stick--the 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
92