And Michael, who with a single careless paw-stroke could have broken Cocky's slender neck and put out for ever the brave brightness of Cocky's eyes, was careful of him from the first.

And he permitted him a myriad liberties that he would never have permitted Kwaque.
Ingrained in Michael's heredity, from the very beginning of four-legged dogs on earth, was the _defence of the meat_.

He never reasoned it.
Automatic and involuntary as his heart-beating and air-breathing, was his defence of his meat once he had his paw on it, his teeth in it.

Only to Steward, by an extreme effort of will and control, could he accord the right to touch his meat once he had himself touched it.

Even Kwaque, who most usually fed him under Steward's instructions, knew that the safety of fingers and flesh resided in having nothing further whatever to do with anything of food once in Michael's possession.