Oneday，ahighsummerfloodwashedhimoutoftheburrowwherehelivedwithhisfatherandmother，andcarriedhim，kickingandclucking，downaroadsideditch。Hefoundalittlewispofgrassfloatingthere，andclungtoittillhelosthissenses。Whenherevived，hewaslyinginthehotsunonthemiddleofagardenpath，verydraggledindeed，andasmallboywassaying，\"Here’sadeadmongoose。Let’shaveafuneral。\"
\"No，\"saidhismother，\"let’stakehiminanddryhim。
Perhapsheisn’treallydead。\"
Theytookhimintothehouse，andabigmanpickedhimupbetweenhisfingerandthumbandsaidhewasnotdeadbuthalfchoked。Sotheywrappedhimincottonwool，andwarmedhimoveralittlefire，andheopenedhiseyesandsneezed。
\"Now，\"saidthebigman（hewasanEnglishmanwhohadjustmovedintothebungalow），\"don’tfrightenhim，andwe’llseewhathe’lldo。\"