“You mean it wouldn’t have been safe if I’d done what you wanted,” cried Bob triumphantly. “I say, Big, he wanted me to put the powder under the stone on the other side, so that when it went off it would have blown the stone over this side instead of down into the Gap, only I wouldn’t.”
“Well, it does seem a pity after taking all that trouble,” cried Bigley dolefully. “I say, isn’t it time it started?”
“Yes,” said Bob in his sour way. “I don’t believe old Sep lighted the rag.”
“That I’m sure I did, and it was smoking fast when I came away.”
“Ran away, you mean, you coward!”
“Ho—ho—ho!” laughed Bigley.
“What are you laughing at, stupid?” said Bob.
“At you. Didn’t you say to me, ‘come on, Big, let’s run for it now. It’s all alight.’”
“Well, I thought it was then, old clever-shakes. Don’t you be so precious ready with your tongue.”
“Here, don’t make all this bother,” I said pettishly. “I did light the rag, and it has gone out again. Never mind, I can soon get another light.”