“I’ve fired a big charge, and I guess you’ll have to start another heading as soon as it’s sun-up.”
It was evident that the men were disconcerted, and an expostulatory murmur rose from them. It ceased, however, when Nasmyth waved his hand.
“I had to do it, boys,” he declared.
It had cost them strenuous toil to drive that heading, but one could have fancied that they were satisfied with the terse assurance he offered them. He had proved himself fit to lead them, and they had a steadfast confidence in him.
“Well,” commented one of the men, “in that case, I guess all we have to do is to start right off at the other one.”
Nasmyth opened the door of the shanty. “I felt you’d look at it that way, boys,” he said. “I’ll explain the thing later. I’m a little played out to-night.”
The men plodded away up the gully, and in another few minutes Nasmyth was sound asleep.