Darzee

Darzee, if you have a grain of sense you will fly off to the stables and pretend that your wing is broken, and let Nagaina chase you away to this bush?

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

Without waiting for breakfast, Rikki-tikki ran to the thorn-bush where Darzee was singing a song of triumph at the top of his voice.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

"For the great, beautiful Rikki-tikki's sake I will stop," said Darzee.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

Darzee and his wife only cowered down in the nest without answering, for from the thick grass at the foot of the bush there came a low hiss -- a horrid cold sound that made Rikki-tikki jump back two clear feet.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

But his wife was a sensible bird, and she knew that cobra's eggs meant young cobras later on; so she flew off from the nest, and left Darzee to keep the babies warm, and continue his song about the death of Nag.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

Darzee was a feather-brained little fellow who could never hold more than one idea at a time in his head; and just because he knew that Nagaina's children were born in eggs like his own, he didn't think at first that it was fair to kill them.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

She headed straight for the long grass by the thorn-bush, and as he was running Rikki-tikki heard Darzee still singing his foolish little song of triumph.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

If Darzee had helped they might have turned her; but Nagaina only lowered her hood and went on.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

"Wicked, wicked Darzee!" said Nag, lashing up as high as he could reach toward the nest in the thorn-bush; but Darzee had built it out of reach of snakes, and it only swayed to and fro.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001

Darzee, the tailor-bird, helped him, and Chuchundra, the musk-rat, who never comes out into the middle of the floor, but always creeps round by the wall, gave him advice; but Rikki-tikki-tavi did the real fighting.

The Greatest Survival Stories Ever Told Underwood, Lamar 2001