"We would not," said the animals.

"But why are they all running back the way they came?" asked Pi
Bol.

"They are going back to punishment. Great is its power. Have ye
not heard the gospel of Rhuddyidd the mighty? 'Force is
everything! Gentleness won't wash, courtesy is deceitful.
Politeness is foreign. Be ye beaten that ye may beat. Pass the
kick on.'"

But here he was interrupted by the appearance of three soldiers who
were approaching the watering-place.

"Ye are now," said the Moo Kow, "with the main guard. The first is
Bleareyed, who carries a raven in a cage, which he has stolen from
the wife of a deputy commissioner. He will paint the bird snow
white and sell it as a dove to the same lady. The second is
Otherwise, who is dragging a small garden engine, of which he has
despoiled a native gardener, whom he has felled with a single blow.
The third is Mulledwiney, swinging a cut-glass decanter of sherry
which he has just snatched from the table of his colonel.
Mulledwiney and Otherwise will play the engine upon Bleareyed, who
is suffering from heat apoplexy and djim-djams."

The three soldiers seated themselves in the pool.

"They are going to tell awful war stories now," said the Moo Kow,
"stories that are large and strong! Some people are shocked--