Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute.

Bold part, what does this mean??

(in The Education of Little Tree, novel)

more context added below
"Smokehouse studied the feller and says, 'Ye could be right, Pine Billy. We'll jest have a look.' and he ambles acrost the road to the feller's car." Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute. I couldn't hardly wait to hear what happened to the criminal.

Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute.

What does the part in bold mean?

The Education of Little Tree by Forest Carter

There's more context added below

“Smokehouse studied the feller and says, 'Ye could be right, Pine Billy. We'll jest have a look.' and he ambles acrost the road to the feller's car.”
Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute. I couldn't hardly wait to hear what happened to the criminal.

Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute.

Bold part, what does this mean??

(in The Education of Little Tree, novel)

Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute.

Bold part, what does this mean??

(in The Education of Little Tree, novel)

more context added below
"Smokehouse studied the feller and says, 'Ye could be right, Pine Billy. We'll jest have a look.' and he ambles acrost the road to the feller's car." Pine Billy brought his chair down on four legs and spit in the fire and studied the logs a minute. I couldn't hardly wait to hear what happened to the criminal.