He said that by a DREAM he was informed that at such a place in a certain hill, in an iron box, were some gold plates with curious engravings, which he must get and translate, and write a book; that the plates were to be kept concealed from every human being for a certain time, some two or three years; that he went to the place and dug till he came to the stone that covered the box, when he was knocked down; that he again attempted to remove the stone, and was again knocked down; this attempt was made the third time, and the third time he was knocked down. Then he exclaimed, "Why can't I git it?" or words to that effect; and then he saw a man standing over the spot, which to him appeared like a Spaniard [Oh, you great son of Lucy!] having a long beard coming down over his breast to about here, (Smith putting his hand to the pit of his stomach) WITH HIS (the ghost's) THROAT CUT FROM EAR TO EAR, AND THE BLOOD STREAMING DOWN... "In all this narrative there was not one word about visions of God or of angels or heavenly revelations; all his information was by that DREAM and that BLEEDING GHOST. The heavenly visions and messages of angels, etc., contained in Mormon books, were afterthoughts, revised to order.