"A bargain's a bargain!" began Stack excitedly.
"Oh, all right! Done!" said Joe. They shook hands on it.
"Do we have to take so many men?" suggested Stack cautiously.
"We got to have the half-breed to steer," said Joe. "The other fellow'll cook. I don't travel without my cook!"
"A large party makes so much talk," murmured Stack.
"I want a lot of talk!" said Joe. "Just so's the fellow ain't warned beforehand. I want there should be talk. I want everybody to know that no man can put one over on Joe Mixer and get away with it!"
XIV
THE JOURNEY IN AGAIN
Next afternoon the Tewksbury left for Gisborne portage again, with Ralph, Joe Mixer, and Stack for passengers. Stack had said to Ralph: "I'll just make the trip up and back on her. It's a chance for a tenderfoot like me to see the country." This seemed natural enough. Perfect amity prevailed during the trip. Stack affected a great admiration for Ralph; Joe Mixer was friendly. Ralph himself held to the role of reticent good nature that he had assumed. Privately he was a good deal bothered, in the light of the story he had told at the Fort, as to how he was going to make a getaway at the portage.
They arrived at the same time as on the previous trip, and Ralph as before was invited to spend the night in the bunkhouse.