Upon this there fell a brief silence, and I heard the drummer clear his throat once or twice.
“It's merely the nightmare, I suppose?” he said after a throat clearing.
“Lord, yes. That's all. And don't happen twice a year. Was you thinkin' it was fits?”
“Oh, no! I just wanted to know. I've been told before that it was not safe for a person to be waked suddenly that way out of a nightmare.”
“Yes, I have heard that too. But it never harms me any. I didn't want you to run risks.”
“Me?”
“Oh, it'll be all right now that yu' know how it is.” The Virginian's drawl was full of assurance.
There was a second pause, after which the drummer said:--
“Tell me again how it is.”
The Virginian answered very drowsily: “Oh, just don't let your arm or your laig touch me if I go to jumpin' around. I'm dreamin' of Indians when I do that. And if anything touches me then, I'm liable to grab my knife right in my sleep.”