It was a regrettable affair, but the natural climax of long-continued political and racial irritation--and not without GREAT provocation! Assassination was a strong word; could Colonel Courtland swear that Cato was actually AIMED AT, or was it not merely a demonstration to frighten a bullying negro?
It might have been necessary to teach him a lesson--which the colonel by this time ought to know could only be taught to these inferior races by FEAR.

The bloodhounds! Ah, yes!--well, the bloodhounds were, in fact, only a part of that wholesome discipline.

Surely Colonel Courtland was not so foolish as to believe that, even in the old slave-holding days, planters sent dogs after runaways to mangle and destroy THEIR OWN PROPERTY?
They might as well, at once, let them escape! No, sir! They were used only to frighten and drive the niggers out of swamps, brakes, and hiding-places--as no nigger had ever dared to face 'em.

Cato might lie as much as he liked, but everybody knew WHO it was that killed Major Reed's hounds.

Nobody blamed the colonel for it,--not even Major Reed,--but if the colonel had lived a little longer in the South, he'd have known it wasn't necessary to do that in self-preservation, as the hounds would never have gone for a white man.