Note: The screen presented here is from the Atari 5200 and Atari 800 versions of the game. If you are playing the game on a different system, some of the points mentioned below may not apply.
The Cannon is your final test in your search for Yukon Yohan. In this section of the mine is a giant cannon, and you are the cannon ball. You must start out by grabbing a certain amount of TNT. There are three levels of platforms and it requires 10 pounds of TNT per level you wish to reach. Each stick of dynamite is 10 pounds, so if you wish to reach the second platform, you will need two sticks of dynamite. Once you have the right amount, you must climb up the ladder, and jump in to the cannon. Once you are inside, you can position the cannon anywhere left and right along the cannon track.
You must time your flight up to the platforms so that you don't end up hitting an angry mutant on the way up. TNT gives you the ability to turn the mutants happy for a brief period of time, but it's not enough to reliably reach the mutants before they turn angry again. Once you reach a platform, do your best to complete it and avoid angry mutants before riding the slide back down to the floor. Even when you slide, you must still time your drop appropriately so that an angry mutant won't cross your path as you slide down, unable to do anything to avoid it.