"Well, now as to that," said the other, casting his face upward in thought, "I couldn't just exactly say."
"Down to the oak tree, don't it?" said Will.
"That's right, Will!" exclaimed the other, in delighted recognition of the fact. "Down to the oak tree, Will. You're right, Will."
"And how far would you say," asked Will thoughtfully, "does it run back in?"
"Run back in, Will?" said the other as though in surprise. "Well, now you know, Will," shaking his head in doubt, "it's been some time since I was up there, Will."
"It goes back as far as the big rock, don't you think?" said Will, thinking hard.
"Back to the big rock, Will!" cried the other eagerly. "That's right, Will. You're right! Back to the big rock, Will!"
"What's the name of those people who own the land just this way?" Will asked, looking hard into his mind.
"Well, now, Will, I can't just bring to mind the name of those people," answered the other, looking equally hard, apparently, into his own mind.
"Smithers, ain't it?" said Will, gropingly.