"'I done looked him over befo', boss,' says Duckfoot, when he gets to the colonel.
"'When?' says the colonel. 'When did you see him?'
"''Bout a month ago,' says Duckfoot.
"'Did you recognize him?' says the colonel.
"'Yes, sah,' says Duckfoot, 'I done recnomize him thoully fum his haid to his tail, but I ain' never seed him befo'.'
"'Recnomize him again,' the colonel tells him.
"'Boss,' says Duckfoot, 'some folks 'low dis hoss am Frien'less, but hit ain'. Ef hits Frien'less, an' yo' puts yo' han' hyar on his belly dey is a rough-feelin' scab. Dis hoss am puffeckly smo-o—' then he stops 'n' begins to get ashy 'round the mouth.
"'Well?' says the colonel. 'What's the matter?'
"'Lawd Gawd, boss! Dis am Frien'less … Hyar's de scah!' says Duckfoot, his eyes a-rollin'. Then he goes 'round 'n' looks at the hoss in front. 'Whar his white foot at?' he asks the colonel.
"'That's what we are about to ascertain,' says the colonel. 'Boy,' he says to a ginny, 'run out to the drug store with this dollar and bring me back a pint of benzine and a tooth-brush.'