The words "racket," "sauntering," and "smirked" impact the paragraph's overall meaning by implying that the narrator considers the adventure a joke. "Racket" suggests a noisy disturbance that could be unsettling, but the narrator dismisses it with a smirk, indicating less concern or fear. "Sauntering" conveys a casual, relaxed approach rather than a fearful one, and "smirked" suggests a playful or sarcastic attitude towards the eerie setting, reinforcing the idea that they find humor or lightheartedness in what others might find scary. Therefore, the correct answer is:
They imply the narrator considers the adventure a joke.