human
We'll leave him, Gramps repeated firmly.
gpt
He belongs in the woods.
human
Hunters will kill him!
gpt
Come deer season, that little guy won't have aught except buttons. Next year he'll be a spike--that's a buck with no tines on his antlers--or maybe a forkhorn--that's a buck with one tine. He's safe for a while. If he's smart and lucky, maybe he's safe for a long while.
human
He'll die with no one to look after him!
gpt
He has somebody to look after him. Maybe his pappy don't pay him any heed but, though she run off and left him when you and Shep came, his mammy sure thinks a heap of her son. There are those who say she'll never come back now that he's been handled and has human scent on him. If ever they say that to you, you tell 'em, 'Hogwash.' She'll be back.