Let him have it . '' Mowgli had been standing with the ankus held point down . He flung it from him quickly and it dropped crossways just behind the great snake 's hood , pinning him to the floor . In a flash , Kaa 's weight was upon the writhing body , paralysing it from hood to tail . The red eyes burned , and the six spare inches of the head struck furiously right and left . `` Kill ! '' said Kaa , as Mowgli 's hand went to his knife . `` No , '' he said , as he drew the blade ; `` I will never kill again save for food . But look you , Kaa ! '' He caught the snake behind the hood , forced the mouth open with the blade of the knife , and showed the terrible poison-fangs of the upper jaw lying black and withered in the gum . The White Cobra had outlived his poison , as a snake will . `` THUU '' -LRB- `` It is dried up '' -- Literally , a rotted out tree-stump -RRB- , said Mowgli ; and motioning Kaa away , he picked up the ankus , setting the White Cobra free . `` The King 's Treasure needs a new Warden , '' he said gravely . `` Thuu , thou hast not done well . Run to and fro and make sport , Thuu ! '' `` I am ashamed . Kill me ! '' hissed the White Cobra . `` There has been too much talk of killing . We will go now .
I take the thorn-pointed thing , XXXXX , because I have fought and worsted thee . ''
Kaa King Mowgli Thuu Warden ankus fro left poison-fangs tree-stump