“Yup. Hit’s might nigh pure gold,” the old man agreed. “Nuther thing that’s plumb quare. Hit’s nigh onto that little blue bear’s den.”
“What?” Lawrence started up. “A blue bear! A—a glacier bear?”
“Reckon you might call ’em that,” the old man agreed.
“He’s been a-stayin’ in a sort of cave up thar fer a right smart spell.”
“How—how far is it?” Lawrence asked almost in a whisper.
“Hit—I reckon hit’s—” the old man studied for a moment. “Why, hit’s right about three peaks, a look an’ a right smart.”
“What does that mean?” Blackie asked in a surprised tone.
“Wall, you jest climb one of them thar least mounting peaks,” the old man explained. “Then another, an’ another.”
“Three peaks,” said Blackie.
“Fer startin’,” said Smokey Joe. “Arter that you take a look an’ hit’s a right smart furder than you can see.”