Despite the gravity of the situation, a general smile went round the little party, and even Mr. Brainerd himself, who was closely watching for the appearance of the warrior, preparatory to his leap over the narrow chasm, turned his head with a light laugh and said:
"There's enough likelihood of being struck without making any mistake about it."
Gravity Gimp sat down on the flinty floor, and leaning back, opened his mouth tremendously, and laughed till he shook all over.
Habakkuk glowered on him and said:
"If you'll only keep that mouth open in that style, it will catch all the bullets that can be fired into the cavern."
At that, Gravity spread his great jaws farther apart, until there seemed danger of their absorbing his ears.
"Yah, yah, dat's de fust time I ever knowed a man killed by a bullet dat nebber touched him."
Maggie Brainerd bit her lips, while Aunt Peggy gave her usual sniff and said:
"It's the easiest thing in the world for some folks to make fools of themselves without knowing it."
McEwen sought to divert the ridicule of his friends by his assiduous attention to matters outside.