Meanwhile Edgar grappled with his assailant, and a desperate struggle was going on.
The man covering Will called out to his mate and Edgar:
‘Drop struggling, or I fire!’
Edgar glanced at him, and saw the danger Will was in.
‘Hands off!’ he said, and the man ceased to struggle with him.
Unfortunately, neither Edgar or Will had their revolvers handy, and their guns were against the trunk of the tree—the revolvers being luckily hidden from sight in the long rank grass.
‘We want that bag,’ said the tall man, still covering Will. ‘Let my mate get the bag and your guns, and then you can go.’
In a moment it flashed across Edgar that if the men took the bag and the guns there would still be the revolvers, and that gave them a chance before the thieves reached their horses. He was not, however, too eager, and said:
‘You are a cowardly pair to rob us like this.’
‘You are three to one,’ said the man with a grin. ‘Nothing very cowardly about that. Will you “ante up” the “boodle”?’