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. 



