“Working together,” I said.
“Of course. You are only a boy, but you are joined with us three to mutually protect each other, and our strength lies in mutual dependence, each knowing exactly what the other has done.”
“Yes, I see that, Uncle,” I said humbly.
“How are we to get on then if one of the legs on which we stand—you, sir, gives way? It lets the whole machine down; it’s ruin to us, Cob.”
“I’m very sorry, uncle.”
“We are four. Well, suppose one of us gets springing a mine unknown to the others, what a position the other three are in!”
“Yes,” I said again. “I see it all now.”
“You didn’t spring a mine upon us, Cob, but you sprang a trap.”
I nodded.
“It was a mistake, lad, though it has turned out all right as it happened, and we have been saved from a terrible danger; but look here, don’t do anything of the kind again.”