Page 98 - Lavender-B-7
P. 98

Sit still, Teddy.
                                              You mustn't move.
                                               Teddy, keep still.











                                                                       Teddy and his mother and father were
                                                                       there at an early breakfast, but Rikki-
                                                                       tikki saw that they were not eating
                                        Son of the big                 anything. They sat stone-still, and their
                                 man that killed Nag, stay             faces were white. Nagaina was coiled
                              still. I am not ready yet. Wait          up on the matting by Teddy’s chair,
                              a little. Keep very still, all you       within easy striking distance of Teddy's
                                three! If you move I strike,           bare leg, and she was swaying to and
                                 and if you do not move I              fro, singing a song of triumph. Teddy’s
                                 strike. Oh, foolish people,           eyes were fixed on his father, and all his
                                     who killed my Nag!
                                                                       father could do was to whisper.



            Then Rikki-tikki came up and cried.                    The big snake turned half around, and saw
                                                                   the egg on the veranda.
                                        Turn round,
                                      Nagaina. Turn
                                         and fight!












                                          All in good
                                      time. I will settle
                                   my account with you
                                     presently. Look at
                                    your friends, Rikki-
                                  tikki. They are still and
                                  white. They are afraid.
                                   They dare not move,
                                     and if you come a
                                         step nearer
                                            I strike.


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