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cross…cutting。 One day Johnny went to town； and that same day I got in a
hurry and left my gun at camp。
I worked all the morning down at the bottom of the shaft； and when I
see by the sun it was getting along towards noon； I put in three good shots；
tamped 'em down； lit the fusees； and started to climb out。 It ain't
noways pleasant to light a fuse in a shaft； and then have to climb out a
fifty…foot ladder； with it burning behind you。 I never did get used to it。
You keep thinking； 〃Now suppose there's a flaw in that fuse； or something；
and she goes off in six seconds instead of two minutes？ where'll you be
then？〃 It would give you a good boost towards your home on high；
anyway。
So I climbed fast； and stuck my head out the top without lookingand
then I froze solid enough。 There； about fifty feet away； climbing up the
hill on mighty tired hosses； was a dozen of the ugliest Chiricahuas you
ever don't want to meet； and in addition a Mexican renegade named Maria；
who was worse than any of 'em。 I see at once their bosses was tired out；
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and they had a notion of camping at my water hole； not knowing nothing
about the Ole Virginia mine。
For two bits I'd have let go all holts and dropped backwards； trusting
to my thick head for easy lighting。 Then I heard a little fizz and sputter
from below。 At that my hair riz right up so I could feel the breeze blow
under my bat。 For about six seconds I stood there like an imbecile；
grinning amiably。 Then one of the Chiricahuas made a sort of grunt； and
I sabed that they'd seen the original exhibit your Uncle Jim was making of
himself。
Then that fuse gave another sputter and one of the Apaches said 〃Un
dah。〃 That means 〃white man。〃 It was harder to turn my head than if
I'd had a stiff neck； but I managed to do it； and I see that my ore dump
wasn't more than ten foot away。 I mighty near overjumped it； and the
next I knew I was on one side of it and those Apaches on the other。
Probably I flew； leastways I don't seem to remember jumping。
That didn't seem to do me much good。 The renegades were grinning
and laughing to think how easy a thing they had； and I couldn't rightly
think up any arguments against that notionat least from their standpoint。
They were chattering away to each other in Mexican for the benefit of
Maria。 Oh； they had me all distributed； down to my suspender buttons！
And me squatting behind that ore dump about as formidable as a brush
rabbit！ Then； all at once； one of my shots went off down in the shaft。
〃Boom！〃 says she； plenty big； and a slather of rock； and stones come
out of the mouth； and began to dump down promiscuous on the scenery。
I got one little one in the shoulder…blade； and found time to wish my ore
dump had a roof。 But those renegades caught it square in the thick of
trouble。 One got knocked out entirely for a minute； by a nice piece of
country rock in the head。
〃Otra vez！〃 yells I； which means 〃again。〃
〃Boom！〃 goes the Ole Virginia prompt as an answer。
I put in my time dodging； but when I gets a chance to look； the
Apaches has all got to cover； and is looking scared。
〃Otra vez！〃 yells I again。
〃Boom！〃 says the Ole Virginia。
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This was the biggest shot of the lot； and she surely cut loose。 I ought
to have been half…way up the bill watching things from a safe distance； but
I wasn't。 Lucky for me the shaft was a little on the drift； so she didn't
quite shoot my way。 But she distributed about a ton over those renegades。
They sort of half got to their feet uncertain。
〃Otra vez！〃 yells I once more； as bold as if I could keep her shooting
all day。
It was just a cold； raw blazer； and if it didn't go through I could see me
as an Apache parlour ornament。 But it did。 Those Chiricahuas give one
yell and skipped。 It was surely a funny sight； after they got aboard their
war ponies； to see them trying to dig out on horses too tired to trot。
I didn't stop to get all the laughs； though。 In fact； I give one jump off
that ledge； and I lit a…running。 A quarter…hoss couldn't have beat me to
that shack。 There I grabbed old Meat…in…the…pot and made a climb for the
tall country； aiming to wait around until dark； and then to pull out for
Benson。 Johnny Hooper wasn't expected till next day； which was lucky。
From where I lay I could see the Apaches camped out beyond my draw；
and I didn't doubt they'd visited the place。 Along about sunset they all
left their camp； and went into the draw； so there； I thinks； I sees a good
chance to make a start before dark。 I dropped down from the mesa；
skirted the butte； and angled down across the country。 After I'd gone a
half mile from the cliffs； I ran across Johnny Hooper's fresh trail headed
towards camp！
My heart jumped right up into my mouth at that。 Here was poor old
Johnny； a day too early； with a pack…mule of grub； walking innocent as a
yearling； right into the bands of those hostiles。 The trail looked pretty
fresh； and Benson's a good long day with a pack animal； so I thought
perhaps I might catch him before he runs into trouble。 So I ran back on
the trail as fast as I could make it。 The sun was down by now； and it was
getting dusk。
I didn't overtake him； and when I got to the top of the canon I crawled
along very cautious and took a look。 Of course； I expected to see
everything up in smoke； but I nearly got up and yelled when I see
everything all right； and old Sukey； the pack…mule； and Johnny's hoss
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hitched up as peaceful as babies to the corral。
〃THAT'S all right！〃 thinks I； 〃they're back in their camp； and haven't
discovered Johnny yet。 I'll snail him out of there。〃
So I ran down the hill and into the shack。 Johnny sat in his chair
what there was of him。