“We’ll keep away, don’t fear about that,” answered several.
“Dynamite isn’t to be fooled with,” added Dave.
“Say, that puts me in mind of a story!” cried Shadow. “A Dutch laborer working on the railroad was much annoyed by the other laborers coming along and knocking his stiff old derby hat over his eyes. At last he got good and mad and 156 when he saw a chance, he stole a stick of dynamite from the shanty where it was kept. He stuck the dynamite in his hat and then went around to the other laborers. ‘Now, chust hit dot hat vonce again of you dare!’ he said.”
“And nobody dared,” added Roger, as a general laugh went up.
“I once saw a fellow take a stick of dynamite and burn it like a torch,” remarked Ben. “It gave me a cold chill to see him do it.”
“And it didn’t explode?” queried Roger.
“No. But I heard afterwards that if he had struck it ever so lightly, it might have blown us all as high as a kite.”
“It sure is great stuff,” remarked Phil. “Say,” he went on suddenly, “I wish they were going to blow up old Sparr’s hotel instead of the bridge.”
“So do I,” added Ben. “He’s about as mean as they make ’em.”
“That man ought certainly to have something done to him,” was Roger’s comment.