Steve did not answer. He shoveled with all his might.
"Ready for the powder," called the head drill-man.
All the men save Steve and the powder-man laid down their tools and moved off. The boy continued at his work, his shovel making a steady scrape, scrape as he threw the ore up into the car.
In the meantime the powder-man was adjusting a charge of dynamite in each of the holes in the ore made by the drills.
"Well, boy?" called Mr. Spooner.
"Yes, sir."
"Are you going to stay there and have your fool head blown off?"
"Why——"
"Don't you see, they're going to fire a charge of dynamite. Get out of that!"