that is cruel which sacrifices a Christian to a brute. This is what I
call the reason of mercy. It would be just as safe to blow a trumpet,
as to let the animal raise his voice again, inasmuch as it would prove
a manifest challenge to the Siouxes."

"I will answer for the discretion of Asinus, who seldom speaks without
a reason."

"They say a man can be known by the company he keeps," retorted the
old man, "and why not a brute? I once made a forced march, and went
through a great deal of jeopardy, with a companion who never opened
his mouth but to sing; and trouble enough and great concern of mind
did the fellow give me. It was in that very business with your
grand'ther, captain. But then he had a human throat, and well did he
know how to use it, on occasion, though he didn't always stop to
regard the time and seasons fit for such outcries. Ah's me! if I was
now, as I was then, it wouldn't be a band of thieving Siouxes that
should easily drive me from such a lodgment as this! But what
signifies boasting, when sight and strength are both failing. The
warrior, that the Delawares once saw fit to call after the Hawk, for
the goodness of his eyes, would now be better termed the Mole! In my
judgment, therefore, it will be well to slay the brute."

"There's argument and good logic in it," said Paul; "music is music,
and it's always noisy, whether it comes from a fiddle or a jackass.
Therefore I agree with the old man, and say, Kill the beast."

"Friends," said the naturalist, looking with a sorrowful eye from one
to another of his bloodily disposed companions, "slay not Asinus; he
is a specimen of his kind, of whom much good and little evil can be