The sheriff yelled also and gave chase.

The group was broken--luckily--just as Casey heaved something in that direction.
"I blowed up a jackass yesterday when they thought I couldn't--I'll blow up a bunch of 'em to-day! Yuh c'n set on what's left uh Barney Oakes!" The explosion scattered dirt and small stones--and the sheriff's posse.
Casey sent one malevolent glance over his shoulder as he stumbled into the dugout.
"Missed 'im!" he grumbled disgustedly to himself when he saw no fragments of Barney falling.

His ferociousness, like the dynamite, annihilated itself with the explosion.

"Missed 'im! Casey Ryan's gittin' old; old an' sick an' a damn' fool.

Missed 'im with the last shot--drunk--drunk an' don't give a darn!" He slammed the door shut behind him, pushed his hat forward so violently that it rested on the bridge of his nose, and wabbled over to his bunk.