The Jackal , who had been growing more and more interested in the story , had just time to leap back as the huge tail swung by like a scythe . `` Not before the fifth shot , '' said the Mugger , as though he had never dreamed of stunning one of his listeners -- `` not before the fifth shot did I sink , and I rose in time to hear a boatman telling all those white women that I was most certainly dead . One bullet had gone under a neck-plate of mine . I know not if it is there still , for the reason I can not turn my head . Look and see , child . It will show that my tale is true . '' `` I ? '' said the Jackal . `` Shall an eater of old shoes , a bone-cracker , presume , to doubt the word of the Envy of the River ? May my tail be bitten off by blind puppies if the shadow of such a thought has crossed my humble mind ! The Protector of the Poor has condescended to inform me , his slave , that once in his life he has been wounded by a woman . That is sufficient , and I will tell the tale to all my children , asking for no proof . '' `` Over-much civility is sometimes no better than over-much discourtesy , for , as the saying is , one can choke a guest with curds . I do NOT desire that any children of thine should know that the Mugger of Mugger-Ghaut took his only wound from a woman . They will have much else to think of if they get their meat as miserably as does their father . '' `` It is forgotten long ago ! It was never said ! There never was a white woman ! There was no boat ! Nothing whatever happened at all . ''
The XXXXX waved his brush to show how completely everything was wiped out of his memory , and sat down with an air .
Jackal Mugger Mugger-Ghaut Protector bone-cracker discourtesy eater fifth neck-plate scythe