to eat him."

I did not translate the whole of this speech to Pablo, for talk even in
fun about eating El Sabio was rather a delicate matter, considering how
close a shave that worthy animal had had to being eaten in dead earnest;
but I did tell him that the Senor Young felt sure that he could swing El
Sabio up through the air to where the stair began. And with Pablo--who
also could use his hands well--most willingly helping, Young contrived
in a surprisingly short time to make a rough windlass, that was
effective enough for the work to be done with it, and to pull it up bit
by bit into the chamber in the rock and there fit it together over the
hole. El Sabio, being brought into the recess behind the idol, regarded
us all with a doubting expression that even Pablo's repeated assurances
that we meant well by him could not change into a look of trustfulness.
Pablo declared, however, that in his heart of hearts the Wise One knew
that we all were his friends, and that even though we should hurt him a
little he would understand that it was for his good. And the conduct of
the ass during the exceedingly bad half-hour that he then went through
seemed fully to bear out Pablo's words. Around his small body, with
stays running forward around his neck and aft to his tail, we rigged
looped ropes--which ropes were gathered together above his back and
there made fast to the line that was pendent from the windlass above.
From time to time, as this operation was going forward, El Sabio turned
his head upon one shoulder or the other and gazed with a wistful
expression at what we were doing to him; and the slow shake that he gave
his head, whereby his great ears were set to wagging mournfully, as he
finished each of these inspections, betrayed the grave wonder that was
within him as to what it all could mean, together with a not unnatural
apprehension of what might be its ultimate outcome.

By a good chance, the effect upon the Wise One of finding the solid
earth drop suddenly from beneath his feet--when at last all was in
readiness, and Young and Rayburn began to hoist away at the
windlass--was to render him quite rigid with terror; and there was a
most agonized look upon his face as he went sailing up through the air.
Pablo, standing below with me, that we might steady the ass with a
guy-rope during his ascent, addressed to him all manner of tender and
comforting words; but for once the Wise One seemed to be insensible to
his master's