hammond 's imperfect knowledge of the language evidently gave him some difficulties in this communication : taruca seemed perplexed by the question , and after listening in , the dragon palta looked sidelong up towards temeraire in a cautious way and volunteered , `` if you do not want him , i would be very happy to take him myself : he could help attend the dead , and light work such as that only ; i assure you we would be very kind to him . ''