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 looking--and 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 hosses was tired out, 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 hat.