‘You are brave, young man,’ said Kaa, ‘and you speak well. Now go with your friends. The moon is going down. You must not see what will happen here next.’
Kaa went softly out in front of the lines of sitting monkeys and began to dance. His head moved from right to left, and his long body turned this way and that way, making circles that changed every second. Slowly, never hurrying, Kaa danced in front of the monkeys.
Baloo and Bagheera stood and could not move. Mowgli watched, and did not understand.
‘Bandar-log,’ said the deep voice of Kaa at last. ‘Can you move?’
‘Without a word from you, Kaa, we cannot move.’
‘Come nearer to me,’ said Kaa.
The lines of monkeys came nearer, and Baloo and Bagheera walked forward, too.
‘Nearer,’ hissed Kaa, and they all moved forward again.
Mowgli put his hands on Baloo and Bagheera to get them away, and the two animals woke up.
‘Keep your hand on me, Mowgli,’ whispered Bagheera, ‘or will go back to Kaa, and walk into his mouth.’
It’s only old Kaa dancing,’ said Mowgli. ‘Let us go.’ And the three of them went away into the jungle.
‘A python’s dance is dance is dangerous to watch,’ said Baloo’ ‘even for us. Kaa will have good hunting tonight.’
‘And now, Mowgli,’ said Bagheera angrily. ‘Baloo and I have fought hard for you. The monkeys have bitten us and pulled you played with the Bandar-log.’