human
My stars! Do you see that 'uge boulder up there, just above the narrow place in the canyon? 'Ow easy it would be, now, wouldn't it, for two men to get up there and pry it loose. It would crash down there and fill up that whole blamed trail, wouldn't it, Mr. Wellesly?
gpt
Yes, and effectually wall up anybody who might have had the bad luck to be left in here, Wellesly dryly replied.
human
But speaking of the dangers of crossing the desert, he went on,
gpt
I remember a story told me once in Denver by a prospector who had been down in this country. It was about a lost mine, the Winters mine. Did you ever hear of it?
human
Yes, said Jim,
gpt
I have. I've heard about it many a time. It's in these mountains somewhere.
human
It was so rich, Wellesly went on,
gpt
Yes, that's just what I've heard about it. But there are so darn many of them lost mines and so many lies told about 'em that you never can believe anything of the sort.
human
What became of this chap and 'is mine?
gpt
I reckon the mine's there yet, just where he left it, Jim answered,
human
I don't know about that, said Wellesly.
gpt
I had the story from the man who took care of him before he died, the prospector I spoke of just now--I think his name was Frank, Bill Frank. He said that the old man was conscious part of the time and told him a good deal about the strike--enough, I should think, to make it possible to find the place again.