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."