midday
` Member that white horse ? I forget his regimental number , but he was about twenty-five years old . You remember how they 'd taught him to chuck up his head and ` laugh ' ? I was grooming him at ` midday stables . ' Old Harry Hawker was the sergeant taking ` stables ' that day . He was stalking up and down the gangway , blind as a bat , with his crop under his arm , and his glasses stuck on the end of his nose -- peering , peering . Well , old Laddie happened to stretch himself , as a horse will , you know , stuck out his hind leg , and old Harry fell wallop over it and tore his riding-pants , and just then I said ` Laugh , Laddie ! '