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Updated: May 4, 2025
Sometimes they got machines to drill, only we don't like them machines, 'cause it takes the men's jobs. When they got the holes, then the shot-firer comes and sets off the powder. You gotta have " and here Little Jerry slowed up, pronouncing each syllable very carefully "per-miss-i-ble powder what don't make no flame. And you gotta know just how much to put in.
After a moment's pause he added, dropping his voice, "You gotta keep secrets if you work in North Valley." "You bet your life," said Hal. "My father's a Socialist," continued the other, addressing Jessie; then, since one thing leads on to another, "My father's a shot-firer." "What's a shot-firer?" asked Jessie, by way of being sociable. "Jesus!" exclaimed Little Jerry.
"My father's went down in that cage," said he, looking up at the tall stranger, his bright black eyes sparkling. "Is that so!" replied the other. "Why don't you go?" "My father'll get 'em out. He ain't afraid o' nothin', my father!" "What's your father's name?" "Big Jerry." "Oho! And what'll you be when you grow up?" "I'm goin' to be a shot-firer." "In this mine?" "You bet not!" "Why not?"
If you put in too much, you smash the coal, and the miner raises hell; if you don't put in enough, you make too much work for him, an' he raises hell again. So you gotta get a good shot-firer." Jessie looked at Hal, and he saw that her dismay was mingled with genuine amusement.
"Don't you know nothin' about minin'?" "No," said Jessie. "You tell me." "You couldn't get no coal without a shot-firer," declared Little Jerry. "You gotta get a good one, too, or maybe you bust up the mine. My father's the best they got." "What does he do?" "Well, they got a drill long, long, like this, all the way across the room; and they turn it and bore holes in the coal.
Hal's new friend besides being a favourite of the boss was a "shot-firer"; it was his duty to go about the mine at night, setting off the charges of powder which the miners had got ready by day. This was dangerous work, calling for a skilled man, and it paid pretty well; so Jerry got on in the world and was not afraid to speak his mind, within certain limits.
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