"I fail to see how that has any reference as to the cause of your stay
among us," he observed, amused at the quaint lingo of the prospector.

"Sart'in not, sart'in not! I had just begun ter git thar. I've only
bin gi'in' ye a geological ijee uv ther Nix family's formation; I'll
now perceed to illustrate more clearly, thr'u' veins an' channels
hitherto unexplored, endin' up wi' a reg'lar hoss-car proposal."

Then the old fellow proceeded with a rambling "yarn," giving more
guesses than actual information and continued on in this strain:

"So thar _war_ gold. I went ter work an' swallered a pill o' opium,
w'ich made me sleep, an' while I whar snoozin' I dreampt about ther
perzact place whar thet gold war secreted. It war in a little pocket
beneath the bed of a spring frum which flowed a little creeklet.

"Next mornin', bright an' early, I shouldered pick, shuvyel an' pan,
an' went for thet identical spring. To-day thet pocket, havin' been
traced into a rich vein, is payin' as big or bigger nor any claim on
Spring creek."[B]

Both Redburn and Anita were unconsciously becoming interested.

"And do you think there is gold here, in this flower-strewn
pocket-valley?"

"I don't think it--I know it. I hed a dreem et war hayr in big
quantities, so I h'isted my carcass this direction. Ter-nite I'll hev
ernuther nighthoss, an' thet'll tell me precisely where ther strike
ar'."

Redburn drummed a tattoo on the arm of the lounge his fingers; he was
reflecting on what he had heard.

"You are willing to make terms, I suppose," he said, after a while,
glancing at Anita to see if he was right. "You are aware, I believe,
that we still hold possession above any one else."

"True enuff. Ye war first ter diskiver this place ye orter hev yer say
about it."

"Well, then, perhaps we can come to a bargain. You can state your
prices for locating and opening up this mine, and we will consider."

"Wal, let me see. Ef the mine proves to be ekal ter the one thet I
located on Spring creek, I'll take in a third fer my share uv the
divys. Ef 'tain't good's I expect, I'll take a quarter."

Redburn turned to Anita.

"From what little experience I have had, I think it is a fair offer.
What is your view of the matter and do you believe your brother will
be satisfied?"

"Oh! yes, sir. It will surprise and please him, to return and find his
Paradise has been turned into a gold-mine."

"All right; then, we will go ahead and get things to sha