"Dad, he set it an' it's doin' all right.

He's up in another cabin." Through Hank's brainless titter, Joe added carefully, "Bad ground in the first right-hand drift.
We had to abandon it.

Rocks big as your head comin' in on yuh onexpected.

None uh them right-hand drifts is safe fer a man t' walk in, much less work." Thereupon Casey related a thrilling story of a cave-in, and assured Joe that he and his partner were lucky to get off with mere broken bones.
Casey, you will observe, was running contrary to his nature and leaning to diplomacy.
For himself, I am sure he would never have troubled to placate them.

He would have taken the first slim chance that offered--or made one--and fought the three to a finish.
But there was the old woman in the rock hut above them, rocking back and forth and staring at a wall that had no visible opening save one small window to let in the light of outdoors.