Маугли
Her Majesty’s Servants
BillytheMulestumpedoffwiththeswaggeringlimpofanoldcampaigner,asthetroop-horse’sheadcamenuzzlingintomybreast,andIgavehimbiscuits,whileVixen,whoisamostconceitedlittledog,toldhimfibsaboutthescoresofhorsesthatsheandIkept.
"I’mcomingtotheparadetomorrowinmydog-cart,"shesaid."Wherewillyoube?"
"Onthelefthandofthesecondsquadron.Isetthetimeforallmytroop,littlelady,"hesaidpolitely."NowImustgobacktoDick.Mytail’sallmuddy,andhe’llhavetwohours’hardworkdressingmeforparade."
Thebigparadeofallthethirtythousandmenwasheldthatafternoon,andVixenandIhadagoodplaceclosetotheViceroyandtheAmirofAfghanistan,withhigh,bigblackhatofastrakhanwoolandthegreatdiamondstarinthecenter.Thefirstpartofthereviewwasallsunshine,andtheregimentswentbyinwaveuponwaveoflegsallmovingtogether,andgunsallinaline,tilloureyesgrewdizzy.Thenthecavalrycameup,tothebeautifulcavalrycanterof"BonnieDundee,"andVixencockedherearwhereshesatonthedog-cart.ThesecondsquadronoftheLancersshotby,andtherewasthetroop-horse,withhistaillikespunsilk,hisheadpulledintohisbreast,oneearforwardandoneback,settingthetimeforallhissquadron,hislegsgoingassmoothlyaswaltzmusic.Thenthebiggunscameby,andIsawTwoTailsandtwootherelephantsharnessedinlinetoaforty-poundersiegegun,whiletwentyyokeofoxenwalkedbehind.
