SNOWBALL was an ' old soldier ' I say it with all 

 respect ! He had been through the wars ; that is 

 to say, he had seen the ups and downs of life and 

 had learnt the equine equivalent of " God helps those 

 who help themselves." For Snowball was a horse. 



Tsetse was also an old soldier, but he was what you 

 might call a gentleman old soldier, with a sense of 

 duty ; and in his case the discipline and honour of 

 his calling were not garments for occasion but part of 

 himself. Snowball was no gentleman : he was selfish 

 and unscrupulous, a confirmed shirker, often absent 

 without leave, and upon occasions a rank deserter 

 for which last he once narrowly escaped being shot. 



Tsetse belonged to my friend Hall ; but Snowball 

 was mine ! What I know about him was learnt with 

 mortification of the spirit and flesh ; and what he 

 could not teach in that way was ' over the head ' of 

 the most indurated old dodger that ever lived. 



Tsetse had his peculiarities and prejudices : like 

 many old soldiers he was a stickler for etiquette and 

 did not like departures from habit and routine ; for 



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