`` Give me permission to come with you , '' said Kaa . `` A blow more or less is nothing to thee , Bagheera or Baloo , but I -- I have to wait and wait for days in a wood-path and climb half a night on the mere chance of a young ape . Psshaw ! The branches are not what they were when I was young . Rotten twigs and dry boughs are they all . '' `` Maybe thy great weight has something to do with the matter , '' said Baloo . `` I am a fair length -- a fair length , '' said Kaa with a little pride . `` But for all that , it is the fault of this new-grown timber . I came very near to falling on my last hunt -- very near indeed -- and the noise of my slipping , for my tail was not tight wrapped around the tree , waked the Bandar-log , and they called me most evil names . '' `` Footless , yellow earth-worm , '' said Bagheera under his whiskers , as though he were trying to remember something . `` Sssss ! Have they ever called me that ? '' said Kaa . `` Something of that kind it was that they shouted to us last moon , but we never noticed them . They will say anything -- even that thou hast lost all thy teeth , and wilt not face anything bigger than a kid , because -LRB- they are indeed shameless , these Bandar-log -RRB- -- because thou art afraid of the he-goat 's horns , '' Bagheera went on sweetly . Now a snake , especially a wary old python like Kaa , very seldom shows that he is angry , but Baloo and Bagheera could see the big swallowing muscles on either side of Kaa 's throat ripple and bulge . `` The Bandar-log have shifted their grounds , '' he said quietly . `` When I came up into the sun today I heard them whooping among the tree-tops . '' `` It -- it is the Bandar-log that we follow now , '' said Baloo , but the words stuck in his throat , for that was the first time in his memory that one of the Jungle-People had owned to being interested in the doings of the monkeys . `` Beyond doubt then it is no small thing that takes two such hunters -- leaders in their own jungle I am certain -- on the trail of the Bandar-log , '' Kaa replied courteously , as he swelled with curiosity .
`` Indeed , '' Baloo began , `` I am no more than the old and sometimes very foolish Teacher of the Law to the Seeonee wolf-cubs , and Bagheera here -- '' `` Is Bagheera , '' said the Black Panther , and his jaws shut XXXXX a snap , for he did not believe in being humble .
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