three after three
`` Certainly , '' cried I , `` this is heaven in miniature ! '' In short , I took the reins in my hand . But before I proceed on my adventures , I shall mention the rest of my attendant furniture . The chariot was drawn by a team of nine bulls harnessed to it , three after three . In the first rank was a most tremendous bull named John Mowmowsky ; the rest were called Jacks in general , but not dignified by any particular denomination . They were all shod for the journey , not indeed like horses , with iron , or as bullocks commonly are , to drag on a cart ; but were shod with men 's skulls . Each of their feet was , hoof and all , crammed into a man 's head , cut off for the purpose , and fastened therein with a kind of cement or paste , so that the skull seemed to be a part of the foot and hoof of the animal .