If you pass us on the ground tomorrow , do n't trumpet . It spoils our formation . '' Billy the Mule stumped off with the swaggering limp of an old campaigner , as the troop-horse 's head came nuzzling into my breast , and I gave him biscuits , while Vixen , who is a most conceited little dog , told him fibs about the scores of horses that she and I kept . `` I 'm coming to the parade to-morrow in my dog-cart , '' she said . `` Where will you be ? '' `` On the left hand of the second squadron . I set the time for all my troop , little lady , '' he said politely . `` Now I must go back to Dick . My tail 's all muddy , and he 'll have two hours ' hard work dressing me for parade . '' The big parade of all the thirty thousand men was held that afternoon , and Vixen and I had a good place close to the Viceroy and the Amir of Afghanistan , with high , big black hat of astrakhan wool and the great diamond star in the center . The first part of the review was all sunshine , and the regiments went by in wave upon wave of legs all moving together , and guns all in a line , till our eyes grew dizzy . Then the cavalry came up , to the beautiful cavalry canter of `` Bonnie Dundee , '' and Vixen cocked her ear where she sat on the dog-cart . The second squadron of the Lancers shot by , and there was the troop-horse , with his tail like spun silk , his head pulled into his breast , one ear forward and one back , setting the time for all his squadron , his legs going as smoothly as waltz music . Then the big guns came by , and I saw Two Tails and two other elephants harnessed in line to a forty-pounder siege gun , while twenty yoke of oxen walked behind . The seventh pair had a new yoke , and they looked rather stiff and tired . Last came the screw guns , and Billy the mule carried himself as though he commanded all the troops , and his harness was oiled and polished till it winked . I gave a cheer all by myself for Billy the mule , but he never looked right or left . The rain began to fall again , and for a while it was too misty to see what the troops were doing . They had made a big half circle across the plain , and were spreading out into a line . That line grew and grew and grew till it was three-quarters of a mile long from wing to wing -- one solid wall of men , horses , and guns .
Then it came on straight toward the XXXXX and the Amir , and as it got nearer the ground began to shake , like the deck of a steamer when the engines are going fast .
Tails Viceroy breast canter formation guns head line sunshine time