Puzzle 195

If he had developed the habit of hunting and foraging for himself, he wouldn't have felt so helpless now. But he had spent too many years at Willy's side, knocking around the world in his role as confident and * chien a tout a faire* , and whatever lupine instincts he had been born with had long since atrophied and disappeared. He had grown into a soft , civilized creature, a thinking dog instead of an athletic dog, and as far back as he could remember his bodily needs had been taken care of someone else. But that was the bargain, wasn't it?

from TIMBUKTU by PAUL AUSTER