The man's hat had fallen from his head, and for the moment Steve did not answer. He was too fully absorbed in gazing at the harsh face of the man before him.
Balanced on Spooner's tall, angular body was a round, bullet-like head, with a rim of reddish-gray hair. His lips were protruding, sagging at each corner, while the lids over his prominent eyes blinked as though trying to run a race with each other.
"Who did it, I say?" roared the contractor, fixing his angry eyes upon the face of Steve Rush.
"I am afraid I am the guilty one, sir. But it was an accident. I will tell you how it occurred. I——"
Spooner gave the lad no opportunity to explain. Instead, the contractor, with an angry imprecation, started for Rush.
Steve's mind worked quickly. He was not afraid; he was considering whether it were best to run or to stand his ground, and he decided upon the latter.
"Stand back! Don't you touch me! I tell you it was an accident!" shouted the boy.
The contractor was too enraged to listen to reason, and as he sprang for Rush he thrust forth his long arms to grab the boy.
Spooner got a blow on the nose that sent him staggering backward, but Steve did not follow up the advantage he had gained. He could not expect to prove a match for the powerful miner, and perhaps he would not have been able to hit the latter as he did had the other been looking for anything of the sort. Spooner was more surprised than hurt.
"If you will wait, sir, I will explain. I am sorry I fell on you and sorry I had to hit you, but you mustn't lay your hands on me. You must——"