He was a man like father in whom a boy could believe in the simple knowing that what was beyond comprehension was still clean and solid and right.
 

This quote from Chapter 2 occurs when Joe and Shane are working at chopping down the stump. The sentiment in the quote comes from Bob and reflects his realization that Shane is both a man and a hero. Shane represents something simple and good and Bob picks up on that immediately. Part of it is the manual labor which carries a sense of sincerity and goodness and the other part is Shane himself, working so doggedly to help Joe.