"I reckon he wouldn't be in too great a hurry, and he wouldn't believe all he saw and heard without chewing on it a bit, as our Yankee friends say.

And he'd know well enough that there was nothing wrong with his Master, and no change in His compassion, only, maybe, that he had perhaps misunderstood both a little." A big steamer hooted as she came up the river, and the echoes of the siren died out slowly among the houses that climbed up the hill behind them.
Then Peter put his hand up and rested his head upon it, shading his face.
"That's difficult--and dangerous, Arnold" he said.
"It is that, laddie," the other answered quickly.

"There was a time when I would have thought it too difficult and too dangerous for a boy of mine.

But I've had a lesson or two to learn out here as well as other folks.

Up the line men have learnt not to hesitate at things because they are difficult and dangerous.