A mangy little Jackal , who had been yapping hungrily on a low bluff , cocked up his ears and tail , and scuttered across the shallows to join the Adjutant . He was the lowest of his caste -- not that the best of jackals are good for much , but this one was peculiarly low , being half a beggar , half a criminal -- a cleaner-up of village rubbish-heaps , desperately timid or wildly bold , everlastingly hungry , and full of cunning that never did him any good . `` Ugh ! '' he said , shaking himself dolefully as he landed . `` May the red mange destroy the dogs of this village ! I have three bites for each flea upon me , and all because I looked -- only looked , mark you -- at an old shoe in a cow-byre . Can I eat mud ? '' He scratched himself under his left ear . `` I heard , '' said the Adjutant , in a voice like a blunt saw going through a thick board -- `` I HEARD there was a new-born puppy in that same shoe . '' `` To hear is one thing ; to know is another , '' said the Jackal , who had a very fair knowledge of proverbs , picked up by listening to men round the village fires of an evening . `` Quite true . So , to make sure , I took care of that puppy while the dogs were busy elsewhere . '' `` They were VERY busy , '' said the Jackal . `` Well , I must not go to the village hunting for scraps yet awhile . And so there truly was a blind puppy in that shoe ? '' `` 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 XXXXX repeated , raising his voice .
Adjutant Jackal beak cow-byre evening flatterer jackals mange rubbish-heaps shallows