Rikki is a young mongoose who is adopted by a human family after nearly drowning in the river. He returns the favour by protecting them from two murderous cobra.

Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a gallant little mongoose, loved everything but snakes. His great enemies were the cobra family. Rikki was contemptuously friendly with Chuchundra, a muskrat, and on fair ...