Fortunately, Baron von Schnitzenhauser was an exceedingly quick-witted man in times of danger; otherwise, it is probable he would not have lived so long.
He scrambled for a hole that had a covering of rock, in the shape of a shelf, and hurled himself under it just in time.
With a booming roar the bowlder passed over him; then the loosened soil and rocks followed it, with a noise that was deafening.
The baron was buried, apparently; but he still could breathe; for the shelf of rock held the weight of the débris from even touching him.
Buffalo Bill and Nomad turned back. The landslip had passed, but a cloud of dust hovered. Out of it floated those yells of the baron.
“Waugh! He’s livin’, anyhow,” said Nomad.
The yells of the baron also brought Wild Bill and Matt Shepard; they had started when they heard the landslip.
It took two hours to dig the baron out; but he issued forth without a scratch on him.
“A fool for luck,” said Shepard, when the baron had been unearthed.
“Uff you mean der Fool uff der Folly Moundain, idt iss so,” admitted the baron, feeling gingerly of himself, to make sure he was uninjured. “It iss no luckiness for me dot I am scar’dt into sixdeen fidts alreadty, iss idt?”