"They left W—— booked as passengers, but reached Last Chance as dead-head road-agents."
"Now I begin to understand. It was your two passengers who attacked you?"
"Just so."
"It is a wonder that they did not kill you."
"They would easily have done so, had I not suspected them: but I grew suspicious, and without appearing to do so, watched their every look and move. When we drew near the Dead Line, they said they would lie down on top of the coach and rest, so they spread their blankets and did so.
"I thought this strange, as just before I had told them we were approaching the scene of the hold-ups. But I kept my eye upon them, and, as we neared the cliff, the sun shone brightly down and I distinctly saw the shadows of the two men as they arose and drew their revolvers.
"I drew mine as quick as a flash, turned, and caught this shot in the arm, while a second bullet whizzed by my head."