He could see the sparks and blazing fragments stream past the shack, and he had no wish to encourage his comrade in the rashness he contemplated.
"Well," said Weston, "I'll go as I am." Then Saunders remembered something, and seized him by the shoulder.
"Hold on!" he cried.

"Did either of you bring the giant-powder and detonators along ?" Weston glanced at Devine, who shook his head.
"I didn't, anyway," he said.
For a moment or two there was a silence that was expressive of dismay, as they realized that in the haste and confusion they had saved only the things that could be replaced.

The result of this might prove disastrous, for giant-powder and detonators are comparatively dear in that country, and in any case are not obtainable in the bush.

To hire labor was in the meanwhile out of the question, and the progress two men could make cutting through hard rock with only the pick and drill was, as they were quite aware, likely to be remarkably small.

Saunders made a little dejected gesture.
"Then," he said, "they're still in the lean-to behind the shack; and it would be kind of wiser to crawl back into the adit.