“It war a disease—­a hereditary affection uv ther hull combined system.  The terrible malady attacked me w’en I war an infant prodigy, an’ I’ve nevyer yit see’d thet time when I c’u’d resist the temptation an’ coldly say ‘nix’ w’en a brother pilgrim volunteered ter make a liberal dispensation uv grub, terbarker, or bug-juice.  Nix ar’ a word thet causes sorrer an’ suffering ter scores ‘n’ scores o’ people, more or less—­generally more uv less than less o’ more—­an’ tharfore I nevyer feel it my duty, as a Christyun, ter set a bad example w’ich others may foller.”

Redburn glanced toward Anita, a quizzical expression upon his genial face.

“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?”