Ike witnessed this performance in open-eyed wonder, and he could not resist whispering to Sam:
"I've seed a good many hogs in my time, but that ar Injun as went an' eat a hull rabbit all by hissel', is jest 'bout de biggest one I ebber sot my two eyes on. Dar, he ain't lef' noffin' but de bones."
"When you no have more meat," said the chief, coming over and standing before Sam, while he cast a covetous look at Maj, "then I tell you what you do."
"What?" asked Sam.
"Don't you like the dog?"
"Oh, yes," said Sam, thinking that the Indian who could like dumb creatures must have a kindly heart. "I am very fond of the dog."
"Then why you no eat him?" asked Blanco.
As Sam had never looked at Maj as something that might be eaten instead of being fed, he was not a little puzzled what to reply, still he managed to say, with an attempt at smiling:
"That isn't the way I like the dog."
"No," said Ike in a low voice, "we likes dog wid de ha'r on an' de bark in him."