  8  Only once before, when some river toughs had ganged up on the scouts, had Drew had to use fists to beat his way out of an argument.
Drew had to fight his way out of an argument about the horses.
mnli hypothesis: Drew had to fight his way out of an argument about the horses. premise:   8  Only once before, when some river toughs had ganged up on the scouts, had Drew had to use fists to beat his way out of an argument.