Маугли
Her Majesty’s Servants
"Well,Igotonecutacrossthechestonce,butthatwasn’tDick’sfault—"
"AlotIshouldhavecaredwhosefaultitwas,ifithurt!"saidtheyoungmule.
"Youmust,"saidthetroophorse."Ifyoudon’ttrustyourman,youmayaswellrunawayatonce.That’swhatsomeofourhorsesdo,andIdon’tblamethem.AsIwassaying,itwasn’tDick’sfault.Themanwaslyingontheground,andIstretchedmyselfnottotreadonhim,andheslashedupatme.NexttimeIhavetogooveramanlyingdownIshallsteponhim—hard."
"H’m!"saidBilly."Itsoundsveryfoolish.Knivesaredirtythingsatanytime.Theproperthingtodoistoclimbupamountainwithawell-balancedsaddle,hangonbyallfourfeetandyourearstoo,andcreepandcrawlandwrigglealong,tillyoucomeouthundredsoffeetaboveanyoneelseonaledgewherethere’sjustroomenoughforyourhoofs.Thenyoustandstillandkeepquiet—neveraskamantoholdyourhead,youngun-keepquietwhilethegunsarebeingputtogether,andthenyouwatchthelittlepoppyshellsdropdownintothetree-topseversofarbelow."
"Don’tyouevertrip?"saidthetroop-horse.
"Theysaythatwhenamuletripsyoucansplitahen’sear,"saidBilly."Nowandagainperhapsabadlypackedsaddlewillupsetamule,butit’sveryseldom.IwishIcouldshowyouourbusiness.It’sbeautiful.Why,ittookmethreeyearstofindoutwhatthemenweredrivingat.
