The primary characteristic of mongooses that makes them hard to frighten and accounts for their motto "Run and find out," is their curious nature. Similar to most mongooses, Rikki-tikki is inherently curious and courageously explores unknown regions, such as the bungalow and its surrounding property, without batting an eye. After being washed from his burrow and family in a severe flood, Rikki-tikki arrives at a British family's bungalow in Colonial India. Rikki-tikki does not waste time exploring the new home and surrounding region, where he discovers two malevolent cobras terrorizing the garden of the family's bungalow. Despite being a young newcomer, Rikki-tikki is not frightened by his new environment or the massive cobras living in the family's garden. Thanks to Rikki-tikki's insatiable curiosity, he is not afraid when he comes face-to-face with Nag and Nagaina. Kipling reveals Rikki-tikki's inherently courageous nature by writing, "...it is impossible for a mongoose to stay frightened for any length of time" (2). Rikki-tikki eventually kills both Nag and Nagaina and restores peace to the British family's bungalow.
The motto stated in the question comes from Rudyard Kipling's short story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." The motto perfectly embodies the central character, Rikki-Tikki. "Run and find out" refers to the natural curiosity of a mongoose. The story says it is nearly impossible to frighten a mongoose because they are so consumed with curiosity. That means when a mongoose comes across something that should be terrifying, the mongoose isn't scared, just more. This holds true in Kipling's story. When Nag and Rikki-Tikki first meet, Nag raises himself up and spreads his hood open. The text says Rikki-Tikki was momentarily frightened, but then remembers he used to eat snakes. From that moment his curiosity takes over, and Rikki-tikki begins questioning Nag, not fearing him.
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