At first no one seemed greatly to desire the honor of touching it off.

The boys stood and joked one another about it, while the girls looked on from a safe distance.
"I shan't feel offended if any one gets ahead of me," Addison remarked carelessly.
"I'd just as soon have some one else do it," Ben said, smiling.
I had no idea of claiming the honor myself.

Finally, after more bantering, Rufus Darnley cried, "Who's afraid?
I'll light it.

Two minutes is time enough to get out." Rufus was not largely endowed with mother wit, or prudence.

His brother Newman and his sister Adriana did not like the idea of his setting off the blast--in fact, none of us did; but Rufus wanted to show off a bit, and he insisted upon going in.