"'"No," I replies, wavin' him off some haughty, for that bag of doubloons has done puffed me up. "No, I don't take no interest in the moon."
"'As I'm comin' back, mebby it's a hour later, this astronomer is still swingin' an' rattlin' with the queen of night. He pitches his lariat ag'in an' now he fastens.
"'"You-all better take a look; they're havin' the time of their c'reers up thar."
"'"Whatever be they doin'?"
"'"Tellin' wouldn't do no good," says the savant; "it's one of them rackets a gent has to see to savey."
"'"What's the ante?" I asks, for the fires of my cur'osity begins to burn.
"'"Four bits! An' considerin' the onusual doin's goin' for'ard, it's cheaper than corn whiskey."
"'No; I don't stand dallyin' 'round, tryin' to beat this philosopher down in his price. That ain't my style. When I'm ready to commit myse'f to a enterprise, I butts my way in, makes good the tariff, an' no delays. Tharfore, when this gent names four bits, I onpouches the dinero an' prepares to take a astronomic peek.
"'"How long do I gaze for four bits?" I asks, battin' my right eye to get it into piercin' shape.
"'"Go as far as you likes," retorts the philosopher; "thar's no limit."