`` If you do n't trust your man , you may as well run away at once . That 's what some of our horses do , and I do n't blame them . As I was saying , it was n't Dick 's fault . The man was lying on the ground , and I stretched myself not to tread on him , and he slashed up at me . Next time I have to go over a man lying down I shall step on him -- hard . '' `` H 'm ! '' said Billy . `` It sounds very foolish . Knives are dirty things at any time . The proper thing to do is to climb up a mountain with a well-balanced saddle , hang on by all four feet and your ears too , and creep and crawl and wriggle along , till you come out hundreds of feet above anyone else on a ledge where there 's just room enough for your hoofs . Then you stand still and keep quiet -- never ask a man to hold your head , young un -- keep quiet while the guns are being put together , and then you watch the little poppy shells drop down into the tree-tops ever so far below . '' `` Do n't you ever trip ? '' said the troop-horse . `` They say that when a mule trips you can split a hen 's ear , '' said Billy . `` Now and again perhaps a badly packed saddle will upset a mule , but it 's very seldom . I wish I could show you our business . It 's beautiful . Why , it took me three years to find out what the men were driving at . The science of the thing is never to show up against the sky line , because , if you do , you may get fired at . Remember that , young un .
Always keep hidden as much as possible , even if you have XXXXX go a mile out of your way .
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