One of them offered to show me around the old diggings, giving me fair warning before setting out that I might not like him, "because," said he, "people say I'm eccentric.

I notice everything, and gather beetles and snakes and anything that's queer; and so some don't like me, and call me eccentric.

I'm always trying to find out things.
Now, there's a weed; the Indians eat it for greens.

What do you call those long-bodied flies with big heads ?" "Dragon-flies," I suggested.
"Well, their jaws work sidewise, instead of up and down, and grasshoppers' jaws work the same way, and therefore I think they are the same species.

I always notice everything like that, and just because I do, they say I'm eccentric," etc.
Anxious that I should miss none of the wonders of their old gold-field, the good people had much to say about the marvelous beauty of Cave City Cave, and advised me to explore it.