His Explanation
It was true that there were more of them than the other group, but they could not help but feel intimidated as they asked them questions. In the end, the bigger man claimed that he was her father.
Had To Trust Them
After hearing such a thing, they decided to back off. Perhaps he discovered her drinking or breaking the rules he gave her. The girl did not ask for their help and kept quiet instead. They took this to mean that he was telling the truth. In the end, they decided that they had no right to question this group.