"What?"
"You got dog?"
"Yes."
"Well, you give me dog, I give you rifle."
Sam had always been attached to Maj, and the adventures they had shared together made him even dearer, so that to lose him would be like parting with a friend; still, he knew that a sacrifice might have to be made.
"What do you want with the dog?" he asked.
"Eat him," grunted the chief.
"I will give you the dog if you pledge me your word that you will not kill him for three days," said Sam, stooping and patting Maj on the head, while the faithful creature, in its turn, licked his hand.
"But we no find game then we get hungry," said the chief.
"You can find game. Agree to this, for the dog is my friend," said Sam with much feeling.