The camel doubled up camel-fashion, like a two-foot rule, and sat down
whimpering. There was a regular beat of hoofs in the darkness, and a big
troop-horse cantered up as steadily as though he were on parade, jumped
a gun tail, and landed close to the mule.
It s disgraceful, he said, blowing out his nostrils. Those camels
have racketed through our lines again--the third time this week. How s a
horse to keep his condition if he isn t allowed to sleep. Who s here?
I m the breech-piece mule of number two gun of the First Screw
Battery, said the mule, and the other s one of your friends. He s
waked me up too. Who are you?
Number Fifteen, E troop, Ninth Lancers--Dick Cunliffe s horse. Stand
over a little, there.
Oh, beg your pardon, said the mule. It s too dark to see much. Aren t
these camels too sickening for anything? I walked out of my lines to get
a little peace and quiet here.
My lords, said the camel humbly, we dreamed bad dreams in the night,
and we were very much afraid. I am only a baggage camel of the 39th
Native Infantry, and I am not as brave as you are, my lords.
Then why didn t you stay and carry baggage for the 39th Native
Infantry, instead of running all round the camp? said the mule.
They were such very bad dreams, said the camel. I am sorry. Listen!
What is that? Shall we run on again?
Sit down, said the mule, or you ll snap your long stick-legs between
the guns. He cocked one ear and listened. Bullocks! he said. Gun
bullocks. On my word, you and your friends have waked the camp very
thoroughly. It takes a good deal of prodding to put up a gun-bullock.
I heard a chain dragging along the ground, and a yoke of the great sulky
white bullocks that drag the heavy siege guns when the elephants won t
go any nearer to the firing, came shouldering along together. And almost
stepping on the chain was another battery mule, calling wildly for
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