“So you are after a mine, eh?”

“Yes.”

“You are regular prospectors?”

“Yes.”

“You have to strike a surface ledge to make any money.  Don’t think a claim would amount to much out here unless you found a nest of them so as to attract a crowd, and a town, and a mill, and all that.  According to my idea the mines out here all need capital to work ’em in case you should strike one.”

Regardless of possibilities, as the night was a little chilly, Brooks had created quite a blaze, and by the light of the fire he had a fair chance to study the woodsman’s face, and finally he asked abruptly: 

“Stranger, what is your name?”

The woodsman laughed, and said: 

“I thought you’d ask that question.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s natural that you should, but that ain’t the reason I thought so.”

“It is not?”

“No.”

“Well, why did you think so?”

“I was going to ask your name.”

“Certainly; my name is Brooks.”

“I thought so.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“What made you think my name was Brooks?”

“Can’t you guess?”

“No.”

“Why did you ask my name?”

“As you said, it was a natural question.”

“That ain’t the reason you asked it.”

“It is not?”

“No.”

“Well, you may tell me the true reason.”

“You’ve been studying my face.”

“I have.”

“You think you’ve seen me before somewhere?”

“Well, you did see me before.”

“I did?”

“Yes.”

“When and where?”

“Just look sharp and see if you can’t place me.”

“I can’t.”

“It was a great many years ago.”

“It must have been; but to tell the truth, there is something very familiar in your face.”

“Yes, and you discovered it at the start, but you don’t place me; I placed you.  I didn’t until you mentioned your name.”

“You now recall?”

“I do.”

“Where have we met?”

“Try to remember.”

“Tell me your name.”

“Oh, certainly, by and by; but in the meantime pay me the compliment of remembering who I am.”

“You have the advantage.”

“How?”

“I told you my name.”

“I will tell you mine in good time, but try to remember.”

“I give it up.”

“You do?”

“I do.”

The woodsman laughed, and said: 

“We slept together one night.”

“We did?”

“Yes.”

“When and where?”

“And now you can’t recall?”

“I cannot.”

“You are a square man, but there has come a change over you.”

“Did we meet often?”

“No.”

“Were we intimate?”