Answer:
The writer is showing us the reaction of the other boys when a new member joins their gang. The boys are initially wary and suspicious of the newcomer, and some of them even laugh at him. However, the newcomer's dark gaze and confident demeanor quickly silence the laughter, and the other boys are left feeling uneasy and unsure of how to react. This suggests that the newcomer is not afraid of danger or the unpredictable, and that he is willing to confront the other boys without any hesitation or fear.