Either he's joking or wants to impress me.
"Papa tried to persuade me not to come.

He tried to frighten me with tales of this--this roughness out here.

He knows I'm in earnest, how I'd like to help somehow, do some little good.

Pray tell me this business." "I wished to get your father's cooperation in my work." "Your work?
You mean your Ranger duty--the arresting of rough characters ?" "That, yes.

But that's only a detail.