Joe extended his hand, exclaiming:
"Shake, you old coyote!"
Norman gave Joe a serious talk—got a pledge from him to quit drink and stand by him in his efforts to bring order out of the confusion and chaos in which the colony was floundering.
"You think I can do anything to help you?" Joe asked incredulously.
"Of course you can. You and Tom are two men I've known all my life. I know where to find you if I get into trouble."
"Is there goin' ter be any trouble?" Tom broke in, eagerly.
"Not yet, but it's coming. When it does we'll fight it out and win. I've set my life on the issue of this experiment."
Joe extended him his hand. "I'm sorry I got drunk. I won't do it again—we'll stand by ye!"
"Through thick an' thin," Tom added.
"And hereafter, Tom," Norman said with a smile, "I'd like to be consulted before you hold any more sessions of your court up the beach."