He already liked Jarvis, and Jarvis liked him.
"I reckon your son is all right," said Jarvis, "an' if he gits cantankerous we kin just pitch him overboard into the Kentucky.

But I can't undertake sich a contract without consultin' my junior partner, this lunkhead, my nephew, Ike Simmons.

Ike, are you willin' to take Colonel Kenton's son back with us?
Ef you're willin' say 'Yes,' ef you ain't willin' say 'No.'" Ike said nothing, but grinned and nodded.
"The resolution is passed an' Harry Kenton is accepted," said Jarvis.
"We start day after tomorrow mornin', early." Breakfast was finished and Colonel Kenton rose and thanked them.
He still said nothing about pay.

But after he and Harry had entered the town, he said: "You couldn't have better friends, Harry.

Both the man and boy are as true as steel, and, as they have no intention of taking part in the war, they will just suit you as traveling companions." They spent the larger part of that day in buying the boy's equipment, doing it as quietly as possible, as the colonel wished his son to depart without attracting any notice.