Маугли
Her Majesty’s Servants
Theseventhpairhadanewyoke,andtheylookedratherstiffandtired.Lastcamethescrewguns,andBillythemulecarriedhimselfasthoughhecommandedallthetroops,andhisharnesswasoiledandpolishedtillitwinked.IgaveacheerallbymyselfforBillythemule,butheneverlookedrightorleft.
Therainbegantofallagain,andforawhileitwastoomistytoseewhatthetroopsweredoing.Theyhadmadeabighalfcircleacrosstheplain,andwerespreadingoutintoaline.Thatlinegrewandgrewandgrewtillitwasthree-quartersofamilelongfromwingtowing—onesolidwallofmen,horses,andguns.ThenitcameonstraighttowardtheViceroyandtheAmir,andasitgotnearerthegroundbegantoshake,likethedeckofasteamerwhentheenginesaregoingfast.
Unlessyouhavebeenthereyoucannotimaginewhatafrighteningeffectthissteadycome-downoftroopshasonthespectators,evenwhentheyknowitisonlyareview.IlookedattheAmir.Uptillthenhehadnotshowntheshadowofasignofastonishmentoranythingelse.Butnowhiseyesbegantogetbiggerandbigger,andhepickedupthereinsonhishorse’sneckandlookedbehindhim.ForaminuteitseemedasthoughheweregoingtodrawhisswordandslashhiswayoutthroughtheEnglishmenandwomeninthecarriagesattheback.Thentheadvancestoppeddead,thegroundstoodstill,thewholelinesaluted,andthirtybandsbegantoplayalltogether
