Billy.
That s one of our recruits, said the old mule to the troop horse.
He s calling for me. Here, youngster, stop squealing. The dark never
hurt anybody yet.
The gun-bullocks lay down together and began chewing the cud, but the
young mule huddled close to Billy.
Things! he said. Fearful and horrible, Billy! They came into our
lines while we were asleep. D you think they ll kill us?
I ve a very great mind to give you a number-one kicking, said Billy.
The idea of a fourteen-hand mule with your training disgracing the
battery before this gentleman!
Gently, gently! said the troop-horse. Remember they are always like
this to begin with. The first time I ever saw a man (it was in Australia
when I was a three-year-old) I ran for half a day, and if I d seen a
camel, I should have been running still.
Nearly all our horses for the English cavalry are brought to India from
Australia, and are broken in by the troopers themselves.
True enough, said Billy. Stop shaking, youngster. The first time
they put the full harness with all its chains on my back I stood on
my forelegs and kicked every bit of it off. I hadn t learned the real
science of kicking then, but the battery said they had never seen
anything like it.
But this wasn t harness or anything that jingled, said the young mule.
You know I don t mind that now, Billy. It was Things like trees, and
they fell up and down the lines and bubbled; and my head-rope broke, and
I couldn t find my driver, and I couldn t find you, Billy, so I ran off
with--with these gentlemen.
H m! said Billy. As soon as I heard the camels were loose I came away
on my own account. When a battery--a screw-gun mule calls gun-bullocks
gentlemen, he must be very badly shaken up. Who are you fellows on the
ground there?
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