"That should do it," Rick agreed. He shifted into gear and moved ahead slowly, searching for a likely spot. There was one a few yards ahead where a clump of wild banana plants would shield the jeep from view. He backed the jeep in next to the banana plants and made sure he could get out again easily, then he took the coil of wire and began unwinding it along the edge of the road. Scotty took out his scout knife and began to pry open a case of dynamite.
Rick fed wire until he reached a spot a hundred yards up the road, then took out his knife and cut through the thin stuff. He started back to help Scotty and was just in time to see the dark-haired boy with a stick of dynamite in his mouth!
Rick gasped. He started to run toward Scotty, but his pal waved him back. Then, as Rick watched, horrified, he saw Scotty take the stick out of his mouth and motion for him to come ahead.
"What are you doing?" Rick demanded. "I thought for a minute you'd lost all your buttons and started eating dynamite."
"We didn't have crimpers," Scotty explained. "The only way I could get the cap on was to crimp it with my teeth."
Rick turned white. He gulped. No wonder Scotty looked a little pale!
"It worked," Scotty said, a little shakily. "But I don't want to do it as a regular thing."
"I should hope not!" Rick exclaimed fervently. "Give me that stick. I'll connect up. Will one be enough?"
"Plenty," Scotty said. "Get going. I'll connect up the detonator."
By the time Rick had placed the dynamite and connected the wires, Scotty was ready, the detonator in the front seat of the jeep between his legs.