and kept me away from the tunnel 

 mouth, saying; 



" If you ever get a dynamite head- 

 ache you will never want to come near 

 the mine again. And, besides, that un- 

 exploded cap may do damage yet." 



I went back to the smithy to wait, for 

 it was the last of October, and snow in 

 the mountains at ten thousand feet is 

 cold. I attempted to sit down on a keg 

 behind the little sheet-iron stove, which 

 was nearly red hot. 



" You better not sit down on that 

 kaig," said one of the men calmly, 

 without pausing in his work. 



"Why?" 



"Well, it's dirty, and, besides, it's 

 nitro-glycerine." 



" Nitro-glycerine ! Why is it in here^ 

 and so close to the stove ? Won't it 

 explode*?" and I checked a desire to 

 retreat in disorder. 



F 



8 



T 



