Ca n't you hear , Rikki-tikki ? '' Rikki-tikki listened . The house was as still as still , but he thought he could just catch the faintest scratch-scratch in the world -- a noise as faint as that of a wasp walking on a window-pane -- the dry scratch of a snake 's scales on brick-work . `` That 's Nag or Nagaina , '' he said to himself , `` and he is crawling into the bath-room sluice . You 're right , Chuchundra ; I should have talked to Chua . '' He stole off to Teddy 's bath-room , but there was nothing there , and then to Teddy 's mother 's bathroom . At the bottom of the smooth plaster wall there was a brick pulled out to make a sluice for the bath water , and as Rikki-tikki stole in by the masonry curb where the bath is put , he heard Nag and Nagaina whispering together outside in the moonlight . `` When the house is emptied of people , '' said Nagaina to her husband , `` he will have to go away , and then the garden will be our own again . Go in quietly , and remember that the big man who killed Karait is the first one to bite . Then come out and tell me , and we will hunt for Rikki-tikki together . '' `` But are you sure that there is anything to be gained by killing the people ? '' said Nag . `` Everything . When there were no people in the bungalow , did we have any mongoose in the garden ? So long as the bungalow is empty , we are king and queen of the garden ; and remember that as soon as our eggs in the melon bed hatch -LRB- as they may tomorrow -RRB- , our children will need room and quiet . '' `` I had not thought of that , '' said Nag . `` I will go , but there is no need that we should hunt for Rikki-tikki afterward . I will kill the big man and his wife , and the child if I can , and come away quietly . Then the bungalow will be empty , and Rikki-tikki will go . '' Rikki-tikki tingled all over with rage and hatred at this , and then Nag 's head came through the sluice , and his five feet of cold body followed it .
Angry as he was , Rikki-tikki was very frightened XXXXX he saw the size of the big cobra .
At as by for if in into of on to