Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

as glass, rejecting the sandy-red sky In
mldchannel. but splashed with patches of
yellow and dusky purple near and under
the low banks. Little creeks ran into the
river In the wet season. but now their dry
mouths hung clear above the water line.
On the left shore, and almost under the
railway bridge. stood a mud and brick and
thatch and stick village, whose main street.
full of cattle going back to their byres.
ran straight to the river, ending in sort
of rude brick pier head. where people who
wanted TO wash could wade IN step by
step. That was the gnaut whence the vii
lage of Mugger-Ghaut took its name.
Night was falling fast over the helds of
lentiIs and rice and cotton in the low-lyinS
ground, yearly flooded by the river, over
the reeds that frinGed the elbow of the
bend, and the tangled low jungle OF the
grazing grounds beaind the still reeds. The
parrots and crows, who had been chatterinS
and shouting over their evening drink, had
flown inland to roost, oss-ns the Outgoing,
paILanOnS OF the hyinS lOXSS, ami couI upon
cloud Of water birds came whstlinS and
"honking'' to the cover of the reedDeds.
There were geese, barrel-helded and black
backed. teal, pigeon, 'mailard and shell
drake, with curlews, and. here and there,
a fiamingc.
A numbering adjutant crane brought up
the rear, flying as though each slow stroke
would be his last.
Respect the aged! Brahmlns OF the river
respect the aged!
The adjutant half turned his head, sheer
ed little in the direction of the voice, and
landed stiffly on the sanGbar below the
bridge. Then you saw what a ruff1anIy
brute he really was. His back view was
immensely respectable. for he stood nearly
six feet high. and looked rather like
very proper bald headed parson. In front
II was different, for his Ally Sloper-like
head and neck had not a feather TO them,
and there was a horrible raw skin pouch
on his neck under his china hold all for
the things his pickaX beak could capture.
His legs were long and thin and skinny,
but he moved them delicately, and looked
at them with pride as lie preened down his
ashy gray tail feathers. glanced over the
smooth of his shoulder and stinened into
stand at attention"
NANCY little jackal. who had been yap-
ping hunsrily on low bluff, cooked up
his ears and tail. and scattered across the
shadows 20 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
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.
"Ughr' he said. shaking himself dole
fully as he landed. May the red mango
destroy the dogs of this village! 1 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 1 eat
mud?' He scratched himself under his left
ear.
Il heard" said the &djutant. in a voice
like blunt saw going through q thick
board II heard there was. new born
puppy in that same shoe"
ITO hear is one thing; to know is an
other" said the jackal, who had very fair
knowledge of proverbs, learned by listen
Ing to men round the 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 tackal
well. l must not go to the village hunt
ing for scraps yet awhile And 50 there
truly was a blind puppy in that shoe?'
1T is here" said the adjutant, squirting
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."
walled the jackal Then his restless eye
caught the least possible ripple on the
hard for us all, and doubt not that even
our excellent master, the pride of the ghaut
and the envy of the river"
"A liar. a fatterer and jackal were all
Matched out Of the same egg" said the ad-
Jutan. to nobody IN particular; for he was
rather a fine sort of liar .on his own &C
count 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 1 would by no
means say this to his noble face. he IS so
wise and so virtuous-as /. alas! am not"
when the jackal owns he is gray how
black must the jackal be-" muttered the
adJutant, who could not see what was com
'"rhat his food never falls. and in conse-
Quence-"
Thers was a soft grating sound as though