Mowgli sniffed the smoke that came up from the fire , broke off a morsel of the blackened bread , tasted it , and spat it out again . `` Apple of Death , '' he coughed . `` The first must have made it ready in the food for THESE , who killed him , having first killed the Gond . '' `` Good hunting , indeed ! The kills follow close , '' said Bagheera . `` Apple of Death '' is what the Jungle call thorn-apple or dhatura , the readiest poison in all India . `` What now ? '' said the panther . `` Must thou and I kill each other for yonder red-eyed slayer ? '' `` Can it speak ? '' said Mowgli in a whisper . `` Did I do it a wrong when I threw it away ? Between us two it can do no wrong , for we do not desire what men desire . If it be left here , it will assuredly continue to kill men one after another as fast as nuts fall in a high wind . I have no love to men , but even I would not have them die six in a night . '' `` What matter ? They are only men . They killed one another , and were well pleased , '' said Bagheera . `` That first little woodman hunted well . '' `` They are cubs none the less ; and a cub will drown himself to bite the moon 's light on the water .
The fault was mine , '' said XXXXX , who spoke as though he knew all about everything .
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