Keep silent , my children , and respect the aged . '' He turned stiffly , and shuffled to the top of the sand-bar , while the Jackal drew back with the Adjutant to the shelter of a tree stranded on the end nearest the railway bridge . `` That was a pleasant and profitable life , '' he grinned , looking up inquiringly at the bird who towered above him . `` And not once , mark you , did he think fit to tell me where a morsel might have been left along the banks . Yet I have told HIM a hundred times of good things wallowing down-stream . How true is the saying , ` All the world forgets the Jackal and the Barber when the news has been told ! ' Now he is going to sleep ! Arrh ! '' `` How can a jackal hunt with a Mugger ? '' said the Adjutant coolly . `` Big thief and little thief ; it is easy to say who gets the pickings . '' The Jackal turned , whining impatiently , and was going to curl himself up under the tree-trunk , when suddenly he cowered , and looked up through the draggled branches at the bridge almost above his head . `` What now ? '' said the Adjutant , opening his wings uneasily . `` Wait till we see . The wind blows from us to them , but they are not looking for us -- those two men . '' `` Men , is it ? My office protects me . All India knows I am holy . '' The Adjutant , being a first-class scavenger , is allowed to go where he pleases , and so this one never flinched .
`` I am not worth a blow from anything better than an old shoe , '' said the XXXXX , and listened again .
Adjutant Arrh Barber India Jackal Mugger down-stream left pickings tree-trunk