“Why, I got a fool notion I’d like to climb over the stern of this kettle and prise the letters of her name some. It’s a notion.”
“Why?”
McLagan shrugged.
“Just bear a hand, an’ after that I’ve got to go right into Beacon.”
“But what about our trip?”
Peter was no longer grinning. He was feeling a little impatient with this chief who could abandon their all important work for something he felt had no right to concern him at all.
“Don’t worry a thing, Peter,” McLagan said, recognising the change in the other’s manner. “I won’t let you down, boy. It’s not my way. But I’m on a trail that looks kind of hot to me, and it’s pretty near to the things that really matter in a man’s life. Get me, boy? No. You don’t. But it don’t matter. I don’t ever break my word to a friend. I’m not going to let you down a thing. Our trip goes through—but later.”