She was blasting a way for civilization into the wilderness.
A flash, springing from different spots, leaped across the foot of the cliff; gray smoke rolled up, and there was a roar that rolled in confused echoes across the woods.

The front of the rock seemed to totter behind the smoke, great stones splashed in the water, and flying pieces rattled among the trunks.

When the vapor began to clear and she wanted to run forward Thirlwell put his hand on her arm.
"It won't be safe for some time; you're not used to the fumes," he said.
"If you went there now, you wouldn't be able to get up to-morrow." She followed him back to the camp, where Drummond and the miner joined them.
"In the morning I'll go with you to see where we ought to stake the other claims," he said to the men.

"You can, of course, locate where you like, but this job will need some capital and you want to get the best frontage you can.

That will help us later." They agreed without much enthusiasm.