Without a word to any one, he drew a knife from his pocket, and proceeded to cut every cord that bound the helpless animals, the people staring silent all the while.
It was a sight to see how the dogs scampered off in the delight of their recovered freedom.

But the rabbit lay where the cat had left him.
Thomas took it with some sign of tenderness, and holding it up in his huge hand, put the question to the crowd in general.
"Wha's aucht this ?" "It's cripple Truffey's ?" piped a shrill little voice.
"Tell him 'at I'll account for't," rejoined Thomas, and putting the animal in his pocket, departed.
He took the nearest way to George Macwha's workshop, where he found Alec and Curly, as he had expected, busy or appearing to be busy about something belonging to their boat.

They looked considerably hotter, however, than could be accounted for by their work.

This confirmed Thomas's suspicions.
"A fine ploy yon for a young gentleman, Alec!" said he.
"What ploy, Thomas ?" asked Alec, with attempted innocence.
"Ye ken weel eneuch what ploy I mean, man." "Weel, supposin' I do--there's nae that muckle hairm dune, to mak' a wark aboot, surely, Thomas." "Ca' ye that no hairm ?" rejoined Thomas, pulling the dead rabbit out of his pocket, and holding it up by the ears.

"Ca' ye that no hairm ?" he repeated.
Alec stared in dismay.