human
Something familiar about this meat, eh? he grinned.
gpt
Pretty good piece of cow meat--
human
It isn't cow meat,
gpt
No?
human
No, sir. That's moose.
gpt
Moose?
human
Yes, sir, and I killed him myself.
gpt
You killed him?
human
With my own hands, I did, and he was a big fellow. Why, you ought to have seen him.
gpt
That's curious. You shot him?
human
No, I didn't, I stuck him with my knife.
gpt
And what was the moose doing all this time?
human
He was fighting. He fought me all over the place. Would you believe it, sir, he charged me. I sidestepped just like this, explained Stacy, jumping up from the table and hopping about.
gpt
As he passed me I struck him on the jaw just like this.
human
Hm-m-m! Did he feel it?
gpt
Did he feel it? scoffed the fat boy pompously.
human
Why, sir, I knocked him down. He dropped right down on his front legs.
gpt
I'd hate to have you hit me a punch with that fist of yours, young man,
human
As I was saying, we had it hammer and tongs all over the place. I hit him on his big nose until it was sore. Did you ever see a moose with a nose-bleed?
gpt
Then you ought to have seen this fellow. I had him groggy after a while. I just played with him; then, when I got him where I wanted him, I let him have it.
human
With your fist?
gpt
No, with my knife. I just cut him. I nearly cut his head off the first swish of the knife. He's out there now if you want to look at him.
human
I reckon you'd better come along to town with me, Cale,
gpt
That is my idea, too, agreed Butler.
human
He will be much better off.
gpt
That will spoil your trip.
human
What's the matter with the Indian?
gpt
Does he know the woods sufficiently well to be able to guide us?
human
Yes. Trust an Indian for knowing the woods. You couldn't lose Charlie for long at a time, if at all.
gpt
I agree with you then, Mr. O'Rell. Mr. Vaughn can join us again when he gets well. We can agree on some point of meeting, leaving Vaughn to settle that. An excellent idea. By all means take him in with you.
human
I don't like to be a baby,
gpt
I should think it would be much better to be a baby, as you call it, than to take the chance of having a stiff ankle for the rest of your life. That would be serious in your calling.
human
I reckon you are right,
gpt
Then it is settled. You go in with me. Can you let him have a horse? I see you have your nags with you,
human
Mr. Vaughn has his own pony here, too,
gpt
That's good. With luck I'll have him home and in the hands of old Saw Bones before midnight.