They came down in a hail of gravel, tin cans and fragments of burro.

Casey, flattened against the wall in preparation for the blast, laughed exultantly.
Paw and Hank and Joe picked themselves up and clung together for mutual support and comfort.

They craned necks forward, goggling incredulously at what little was left of the burro and the pile of tin cans.
"'Z that a bumb ?" Paw cackled nervously at last, clawing gravel out of his uncombed beard.

"'Z got me all shuck up.

Whar's that 'r bottle ?" "'Z goin' t' eat a bumb--ol' fool burro!" Hank chortled weakly, feeling tenderly certain nicks on his cheeks where gravel had landed.
"Paw, you ol' fool, you, don't hawg the hull thing--gimme a drink!" "Casey's sure all right," came Joe's official O.K.of the performance.
"Casey said 'e c'd do it--'n' Casey done it!" He turned and slapped Casey somewhat uncertainly on the back, which toppled him against the wall again.