Then it lifted, and the shack stood out in the midst of a lurid blaze.

There was a horrible crackling, and Weston suddenly sprang into sight, black against the brightness, with the iron box, which had deer-hide straps attached to it, slung upon his back.

The sparks rained about him, but he plunged through the midst of them, while the box banged against him.

Then Devine turned and ran.
They reached the mouth of the adit safely, and when they crawled into it, Weston sat down and gasped heavily for a while before he turned to the others and pointed to the two bags of giant-powder lying on the floor.

His duck jacket was burned in patches, and there were several red spots, apparently where sparks had fallen, on his blackened face and hands.
"Haven't you sense enough to take that open lamp farther away from those bags ?" he asked.
There was a roar of hoarse laughter as his companions recognized the incongruity of the question; and Weston blinked at them, as though puzzled by it, until a light broke in on him.
"Perhaps it wasn't quite in keeping with the other thing, boys," he admitted.