`` It is here , '' said the Adjutant , squinting over his beak at his full pouch . `` A small thing , but acceptable now that charity is dead in the world . '' `` Ahai ! The world is iron in these days , '' wailed the Jackal . Then his restless eye caught the least possible ripple on the water , and he went on quickly : `` Life is hard for us all , and I doubt not that even our excellent master , the Pride of the Ghaut and the Envy of the River -- '' `` A liar , a flatterer , and a Jackal were all hatched out of the same egg , '' said the Adjutant to nobody in particular ; for he was rather a fine sort of a liar on his own account when he took the trouble . `` Yes , the Envy of the River , '' the Jackal repeated , raising his voice . `` Even he , I doubt not , finds that since the bridge has been built good food is more scarce . But on the other hand , though I would by no means say this to his noble face , he is so wise and so virtuous -- as I , alas I am not -- '' `` When the Jackal owns he is gray , how black must the Jackal be ! '' muttered the Adjutant . He could not see what was coming . `` That his food never fails , and in consequence -- '' There was a soft grating sound , as though a boat had just touched in shoal water . The Jackal spun round quickly and faced -LRB- it is always best to face -RRB- the creature he had been talking about . It was a twenty-four-foot crocodile , cased in what looked like treble-riveted boiler-plate , studded and keeled and crested ; the yellow points of his upper teeth just overhanging his beautifully fluted lower jaw . It was the blunt-nosed Mugger of Mugger-Ghaut , older than any man in the village , who had given his name to the village ; the demon of the ford before the railway bridge , came -- murderer , man-eater , and local fetish in one . He lay with his chin in the shallows , keeping his place by an almost invisible rippling of his tail , and well the Jackal knew that one stroke of that same tail in the water would carry the Mugger up the bank with the rush of a steam-engine . `` Auspiciously met , Protector of the Poor ! '' he fawned , backing at every word . `` A delectable voice was heard , and we came in the hopes of sweet conversation . My tailless presumption , while waiting here , led me , indeed , to speak of thee . It is my hope that nothing was overheard . ''
Now the Jackal had spoken just to be listened to , for he knew flattery was the best way of getting things to eat , and the Mugger knew that the Jackal had spoken for this end , and the Jackal knew that the XXXXX knew , and the Mugger knew that the Jackal knew that the Mugger knew , and so they were all very contented together .
Adjutant Ahai Jackal Mugger Mugger-Ghaut Protector River beak flatterer steam-engine