It was all so incongruous, so utterly opposed to rule and precedent; they could scarcely believe their senses.

Dick was the first to recover.
'Fire!' commanded Red Hand.
Cracker-wicks were ignited and four explosions followed, but when the smoke was gone the gang still beheld the terrible woman beating away at their unhappy comrade, too absorbed in a congenial occupation to care a solitary button for the fire of the outlaws.

This was too much for Jacker.

The brothers were always ready to fight each other's battles, let the odds be what they might, and the elder rushed to the rescue.

The onslaught did not seem to make the least difference, however; the woman simply dropped Ted and grasped his brother.