The young mule 's teeth snapped , and I heard him say something about not being afraid of any beefy old bullock in the world . But the bullocks only clicked their horns together and went on chewing . `` Now , do n't be angry after you 've been afraid . That 's the worst kind of cowardice , '' said the troop-horse . `` Anybody can be forgiven for being scared in the night , I think , if they see things they do n't understand . We 've broken out of our pickets , again and again , four hundred and fifty of us , just because a new recruit got to telling tales of whip snakes at home in Australia till we were scared to death of the loose ends of our head-ropes . '' `` That 's all very well in camp , '' said Billy . `` I 'm not above stampeding myself , for the fun of the thing , when I have n't been out for a day or two . But what do you do on active service ? '' `` Oh , that 's quite another set of new shoes , '' said the troop horse . `` Dick Cunliffe 's on my back then , and drives his knees into me , and all I have to do is to watch where I am putting my feet , and to keep my hind legs well under me , and be bridle-wise . '' `` What 's bridle-wise ? '' said the young mule . `` By the Blue Gums of the Back Blocks , '' snorted the troop-horse , `` do you mean to say that you are n't taught to be bridle-wise in your business ? How can you do anything , unless you can spin round at once when the rein is pressed on your neck ? It means life or death to your man , and of course that 's life and death to you . Get round with your hind legs under you the instant you feel the rein on your neck . If you have n't room to swing round , rear up a little and come round on your hind legs . That 's being bridle-wise . '' `` We are n't taught that way , '' said Billy the mule stiffly .
`` We 're taught XXXXX obey the man at our head : step off when he says so , and step in when he says so .
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