They told him what they had heard, and asked if it was true.

He said it was.

One of them then drew a knife, and the other two, "billies" to attack him.

But, anticipating trouble, Key had procured a revolver which one of the Pilgrims had brought in in his knapsack and drawing this he drove them off, but without firing a shot.
The occurrence caused the greatest excitement.

To us of the Regulators it showed that the Raiders had penetrated our designs, and were prepared for them.