Malley dismisses the concern about the dangerous situation, sarcastically telling T.C. that if the others are foolish enough to swim during a lightning storm, they should be left alone. His nonchalant attitude towards the peril highlights a sense of recklessness or indifference to danger.
The governor, on the other hand, insists that thinking is overrated, which causes the narrator and their cousin to laugh despite the seriousness of their circumstances. This ironic comment adds a layer of humor to the tense scene and reflects their attempt to cope with fear through humor.