ATDTDA (7): What do you know, 192-194

[Paul Nightingale]

The new section returns to Webb, sent "into the
Uncompahgre for a while, to the Torpedo workings"
(193). If the previous section ended with a strong
hint that something had happened to him, there is a
clear implication here that we are about to find out.
Hence the significance of his meeting with Deuce, to
whom Webb cultivates a somewhat fatherly attachment
"to [his] great consequent sorrow".

When arguing with Lake (189-190) he was at pains to
emphasise his superior knowledge about the fighters
she mentioned: his patriarchal authority was dependent
on his knowledge here. Meeting Deuce he easily skips
into the role of savant, "laying a reassuring hand on
the kid's shoulder" (193). The section ends with Deuce
thanking Webb for his advice at the poker game (194),
confirming his role as surrogate son.