Sentence:  She had surprised Hans like she had surprised me when she said she 'd go , and then she surprised him again when she came back so quick like she must have , because when I came in with the snow she was there with a bottle with three white feathers on its label and Hans was <WSD>holding</WSD> it angrily by the throat . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have or hold in one's hands or grip