human
And the miner told you that the bottom of the cave was covered with gold nuggets like this?
gpt
Yes, yes, answered Bud.
human
Thousands of them, only smaller. Of course he picked up the biggest that he could see. We can go to the mines now, can't we, mother?
gpt
And this queer skin map tells you how to find this wonderful Cave of Gold? and Mrs. Conroyal spread out the map on her lap and stared wonderingly at it.
human
I can't see how all this jumble of crooked lines and letters can tell you anything.
gpt
Why, it's easy, mother, and Thure bent eagerly over the map.
human
You see you start from Hangtown and go in a northeasterly direction to Humbug Canyon and Three Tree Mountain and Goose Neck Lake and the Devil's Slide to Lot's Canyon; and then up Lot's Canyon until you come to Crooked Arm Gulch, and then up Crooked Arm Gulch until you come to the Golden Elbow; and the cave, you see, is right in the point of the elbow, and Thure's finger rested excitedly on the black spot on the map marked
gpt
human
The cave is about five days from Hangtown, the miner said. We can go to the mines now, can't we, mother?
gpt
Hangtown! What a horrid name! and Mrs. Conroyal shuddered.
human
But, and she started to her feet excitedly,
gpt
and she hurried to her writing desk, picked up a letter and glanced eagerly at its heading.
human
See! It was! Here is the name,
gpt
You see, it won't be difficult to find the Cave of Gold from the map, mother, not with dad's help. And, mother, we must start for the mines just as soon as we can get ready to go. You surely will let us go now! and Thure caught hold of his mother's hand.
human
Say, yes, mother, now; because Bud and I want to start to-morrow morning, and there is much to be done before we go.
gpt
My boy, and Mrs. Conroyal's face sobered,
human
But, mother, think of what the finding of such a mine means to us all! And father and Mr. Randolph, if they knew about the Cave of Gold and the skin map, I am sure would want us to come; and Old Juan and Manuel and the boys can take care of the rancho; and, you know, if we find the Cave of Gold and get the gold, then all of us, father and the rest, will be back soon; and we will be rich; and dad can build you the new house that you want and furnish it the way that you want it furnished; and Bud and I can go East and get the education that we need to fit us to do a man's work in the great new State of California that is bound to be made out of this country, now that it has become a part of the United States. It is yes, isn't it, mother? And we can start, can't we, to-morrow morning?