'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 bath-room 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 all 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 three weeks ago.'