It is a
well-known fact that the fumes of dynamite and other giant
powders will often produce severe headaches, and even
illness. Tom's explosive contained a certain percentage of
dynamite, and he knew its ill effects. Stretched prone, or
crouching on the ground, there was little danger, as the
fumes, being lighter than air, rose. The yellow haze soon
drifted away, and it was safe to rise.
"Well, I wonder how much rock your explosive tore loose
for us, Tom," observed Job Titus, as he looked at the thin,
yellowish cloud of smoke that was still lazily drifting from
the tunnel.
"Can't tell until we go in and take a look," replied the
young inventor. "It won't be safe to go in for a while yet,
though. That smoke will hang in there a long time. I didn't
think there'd be a back draft."
"There is, for we've often had the same trouble with our
shots," Walter Titus said. "I can't account for it unless
there is some opening in the shaft, connecting with the
outer air, which admits a wind that drives the smoke out of
the mouth, instead of forward into the blast hole. It's a
queer thing and we haven't been able to get at the bottom of
it."
"That's right," agreed his brother. "We've looked for some
opening, or natural shaft, but haven't been able to find it.
Sometimes we shoot off a charge and everything goes well,
the smoke disappears in a few minutes.
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