I once found myself in a situation described by the poster where the people encountered were not so benign. I was fishing with 3 friends (one a female) in a very remote area covered in tall reeds along a river bank. My 2 male friends went downstream to try a different spot and were out of sight. Shortly after four guys came through the reeds from the opposite direction and were VERY interested in my friend’s girlfriend. Bad things were clearly going to happen. Fortunately I was well armed (as were my other 2 male friends) who they didn’t know about. When I turned toward them and they saw the large revolver on my hip their attitude changed considerably and they disappeared the way they came. We quickly found my other 2 friends and got out of there.
Did you detect banjo music?