Sometimes life has you by the short and curlies. You might have a sword resting on the jugular, or a dagger pressed to your gut with nowhere to run.
In those situations some people decide to cower and falter. They give in to the highwayman's demands and give up their riches. They might be safe and smart, but they are weak.
I prefer an alternative method, to press my flesh against the tip or edge of the blade or sword contrary to the expectations of the aggressor.
Surely death is on the table. The risk is always there whether a highwayman is present or not.
But I might just surprise the thief enough to catch him off guard and reach for my pistol.