Yes, even at that moment he did not
wholly despair. These men did not know his mettle, and could he once get
a weapon in his hands he would make a desperate fight. He was armed, but
thought that possibly the men might go through the farce of a duel. This
would give him a chance. He had his club and he knew he must take them
by a grand dash, a magnificent surprise. He had encountered as many men
on several occasions in desperate conflict, but these men had the
"bulge" on him. They were prepared and on the alert. The chances were
that every man was well armed and ready to "pull." He must get a vantage
ground from where he could take them by surprise--throw them off their
guard; but even then the chances were against him, for these were no
ordinary men. They were a lot of cool, nervy criminals, well prepared,
as stated--men who had their plans well arranged, their signals also.
Possibly each man had his appointed work. They were men who could and
would carry out their orders. It was a desperate moment, and all the
chances were against him.
It was at this most critical moment that an extraordinary incident
occurred. Oscar saw but little chance; still, as intimated, he was
determined to make a desperate fight even in face of the odds against
him, and there he sat revolving the matter in his mind when suddenly
there sounded a little tick-tick like the tick-tick of a telegraph
machine.
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