“Up with your hands, every one of you.”
This formula, always used, was generally concluded with an abusive epithet. Bill Bunton, who had a part to enact, threw up his hands and in an imploring voice, exclaimed,
“For God’s sake, don’t kill me. You are welcome to all my money,—only spare my life.”
The other inmates raised their arms as commanded.
“Get out,” shouted the robbers, “and hold up your hands. We’ll shoot every man who puts his down.”
The passengers descended hurriedly to the ground and stood with their arms upraised, awaiting further orders. Turning to Rumsey, who remained on the box holding the reins, the robbers ordered him to get down, and remove the arms from the passengers.
Not easily frightened, and anxious to escape a service so distasteful, Rumsey replied,
“You must be fools to think I’m going to get down and let this team run away. You don’t want the team. It can do you no good.”
“Get down,” said the robber spokesman with an oath as he levelled his gun at Rumsey, “or I’ll shoot the top of your head off.”
“There’s a man,” said Rumsey, pointing to Bunton, “who is unarmed. Let him disarm the others.”