`` Who hunts the white-faces ? '' yapped the Jackal excitedly . `` No one now , but I have hunted them in my time . '' `` I remember a little of that Hunting . I was young then , '' said the Adjutant , clattering his beak significantly . `` I was well established here . My village was being builded for the third time , as I remember , when my cousin , the Gavial , brought me word of rich waters above Benares . At first I would not go , for my cousin , who is a fish-eater , does not always know the good from the bad ; but I heard my people talking in the evenings , and what they said made me certain . '' `` And what did they say ? '' the Jackal asked . `` They said enough to make me , the Mugger of Mugger-Ghaut , leave water and take to my feet . I went by night , using the littlest streams as they served me ; but it was the beginning of the hot weather , and all streams were low . I crossed dusty roads ; I went through tall grass ; I climbed hills in the moonlight . Even rocks did I climb , children -- consider this well . I crossed the tail of Sirhind , the waterless , before I could find the set of the little rivers that flow Gungaward . I was a month 's journey from my own people and the river that I knew . That was very marvellous ! '' `` What food on the way ? '' said the Jackal , who kept his soul in his little stomach , and was not a bit impressed by the Mugger 's land travels . `` That which I could find -- COUSIN , '' said the Mugger slowly , dragging each word .
Now you do not call a man a cousin in India unless you think you can establish some kind of blood-relationship , and as it is only in old fairy-tales that the XXXXX ever marries a jackal , the Jackal knew for what reason he had been suddenly lifted into the Mugger 's family circle .
Gavial Gungaward Jackal Mugger Sirhind beak evenings month night white-faces