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 ona 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. 
oOWhy ?” 
“Well, it’s dirty, and, besides, it’s 
nitro-glycerine.” 
“ Nitro-glycerine! Why is it in 4ere, 
and so close to the stove? Won’t it 
explode?” and I checked a desire to 
retreat in disorder. 
XS 
migomanozis 
