The Young Buglers by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
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page 15 of 363 (04%)
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it would be rather a lark. I say, Peter," he went on in a whisper, "I
think we might astonish them with those pistols that coward next to you has hid behind him." "I should just think so," Peter said; "the bargee at Eton would be nothing to it." The hours went slowly on. Rhoda and the boys dozed uncomfortably against each other and the baggage behind them, until they were suddenly roused by a shout in the road beside them: "Stand for your lives!" The moon was up, and they could see that there were three horsemen. One galloped to the horses' heads, and seized the rein of one of the leaders, the others rode by the coach. The first answer to the challenge was a discharge from the blunderbuss of the guard, which brought one of the highwaymen from his horse. The other, riding up to the side of the coach, fired at the guard, and a loud cry told that the shot had taken effect. In another moment the fellow was by the side of the coachman. "Hold up!" he said, "or I will blow your brains out!" The coachman did as he was ordered, and indeed the man at the leader's head had almost succeeded in stopping them. The passenger next to the boys had, at the first challenge, again seized his pistols, and the boys thought that he was going to fire after all. |
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