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 as he saw the size of the big cobra . Nag coiled himself up , raised his head , and looked into the bathroom in the dark , and Rikki could see his eyes glitter . `` Now , if I kill him here , Nagaina will know ; and if I fight him on the open floor , the odds are in his favor . What am I to do ? '' said Rikki-tikki-tavi . Nag waved to and fro , and then Rikki-tikki heard him drinking from the biggest water-jar that was used to fill the bath . `` That is good , '' said the snake . `` Now , when Karait was killed , the big man had a stick . He may have that stick still , but when he comes in to bathe in the morning he will not have a stick . I shall wait here till he comes . Nagaina -- do you hear me ? -- I shall wait here in the cool till daytime . '' There was no answer from outside , so Rikki-tikki knew Nagaina had gone away . Nag coiled himself down , coil by coil , round the bulge at the bottom of the water jar , and Rikki-tikki stayed still as death . After an hour he began to move , muscle by muscle , toward the jar . Nag was asleep , and Rikki-tikki looked at his big back , wondering which would be the best place for a good hold . `` If I do n't break his back at the first jump , '' said Rikki , `` he can still fight . And if he fights -- O Rikki ! ''
He looked at the thickness of the neck below the hood , but that was too much XXXXX him ; and a bite near the tail would only make Nag savage .
as at by for from if in into till to