Now those bulldogs of Pryors' are as mild as kittens with a man who knows the right word.

Reason I know, Sarah, I've said the word to them, separately and collectively, and it worked.

There is a contrast, Sarah, between what I say and do to those dogs, and the kicks and curses they get from their owner.

I'll wager you two to one that if you can get Mr.Pryor to go into a 'sic-ing' contest with me, I can have his own dogs at his throat, when he can't make them do more than to lick my hands." They laughed as if that were funny.
"Well, I didn't know about this," said Sarah.

"How long have you lived at Pryors' ?" You couldn't have heard what Laddie said if he'd spoken; so he waited until he could be heard, and it never worried him a speck.
He only stood and laughed too; then, "Long enough," he said, "to know that all of us are making a big and cruel mistake in taking them at their word, and leaving them penned up there weltering in misery.