He's afraid of notoriety.

The plain, cold truth is that he tried to railroad me, and only my knowledge of that fact led him into doing a decent and honorable thing.

But I sealed any chance of his moral aid when I made my bargain.

It was my only chance." Slowly Ba'tiste nodded and slapped the reins on the back of the horse.
"Ba'teese will not see Medaine," came at last, and they went on.
Again the waiting game, but a busy game however, one which kept the ice roads polished and slippery; which resulted, day by day, in a constantly growing mountain of logs about the diminutive sawmill.

One in which plans were drawn, and shell-like buildings of mere slats and slab sidings erected, while heavy, stone foundations were laid in the firm, rocky soil to support the machinery, when it arrived.