Obeying Orders

A certain General of the United States Army, supposing his favorite horse head, ordered an Irishman to go and skin him. "What! is Silver-tail dead?" asked Pat. "What is it to you?" replied the officer. "Do as I bid you, and ask no questions." Pat went about his business, and in an hour or two returned. "Well, Pat, where have you been all this time?" asked the General. "Skinning the horse, yer honor." "Does it take nearly two hours to perform such an operation?" "No, yer honor, but then ye see it tuk 'bove half an hour to catch him." "Catch him! Fire and furies! was he alive?" "Yes, yer honor; and you know I could not skin him alive." "Skin him alive! - did you kill him?" "To be sure I did; you know I must obey orders without asking question."