 "Don't look like they was so tough they had to sneak up on th' dipper to take a drink, do they now?"Donally asked of the room at large.
Donally was mute and could not speak a word. 
mnli hypothesis: Donally was mute and could not speak a word.  premise:  "Don't look like they was so tough they had to sneak up on th' dipper to take a drink, do they now?"Donally asked of the room at large.