One of us at least needs food . Is there any news of game afoot ? A doe now , or even a young buck ? I am as empty as a dried well . '' `` We are hunting , '' said Baloo carelessly . He knew that you must not hurry Kaa . He is too big . `` 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 XXXXX that kind it was that they shouted to us last moon , but we never noticed them .
Baloo Psshaw as at for of that to under with