Page 238 - THE JUNGLE BOOK
P. 238
The Jungle Book
‘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.’
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