Then I heard an old grizzled, long-haired Central Asian chief, who had
come down with the Amir, asking questions of a native officer.
Now, said he, in what manner was this wonderful thing done?
And the officer answered, An order was given, and they obeyed.
But are the beasts as wise as the men? said the chief.
They obey, as the men do. Mule, horse, elephant, or bullock, he
obeys his driver, and the driver his sergeant, and the sergeant his
lieutenant, and the lieutenant his captain, and the captain his major,
and the major his colonel, and the colonel his brigadier commanding
three regiments, and the brigadier the general, who obeys the Viceroy,
who is the servant of the Empress. Thus it is done.
Would it were so in Afghanistan! said the chief, for there we obey
only our own wills.
And for that reason, said the native officer, twirling his mustache,
your Amir whom you do not obey must come here and take orders from our
Viceroy.
Parade Song of the Camp Animals
ELEPHANTS OF THE GUN TEAMS
We lent to Alexander the strength of Hercules,
The wisdom of our foreheads, the cunning of our knees;
We bowed our necks to service: they ne er were loosed again,--
Make way there--way for the ten-foot teams
Of the Forty-Pounder train!
GUN BULLOCKS
Those heroes in their harnesses avoid a cannon-ball,
133