“Gone, gone with Betty Dene in a boat, from this quay, to be rowed to the Margaret, or so I thought. Having stabled the horses as I was bidden, I came back here to await them. But that was hours ago, and I have seen no soul, and heard nothing except the wind and the water, till I heard the galloping of your horses.” “On to Tilbury, and get boats,” said Castell. “We must catch the Margaret ere she sails at dawn. Perhaps the women are aboard of her.” “If so, I think Spaniards took them there, for I am sure they were not English in that craft,” said Thomas, as he ran by the side of Castell’s horse, holding to the stirrup leather. His master made no answer, only Peter groaned aloud, for he too was sure that they were Spaniards. An hour later, just as the dawn broke, they with their men climbed to the deck of the Margaret while she was hauling up her anchor. A few words with her captain, Jacob Smith, told them the worst. No boat had left the ship, no Margaret had come aboard her. But some six hours before they had watched the Spanish vessel, San Antonio, that had been berthed above them, pass down the river. Moreover, two watermen in a skiff, who brought them fresh meat, had told them that while they were delivering three sheep and some fowls to the San Antonio, just before she sailed, they had seen two tall women helped up her ladder, and heard one of them say in English, “Lead me to my father.” Now they knew all the awful truth, and stared at each other like dumb men. It was Peter who found his tongue the first, and said slowly: “I must away to Spain to find my bride, if she still lives, and to kill that fox. Get you home, Master Castell.” “My home is where my daughter is,” answered Castell fiercely. “I go a-sailing also.” “There is danger for you in that land of Spaniards, if ever we get yonder,” said Peter meaningly. “If it were the mouth of hell, still I would go,” replied Castell. “Why should I not who seek a devil?” “That we do both,” said Peter, and stretching out his hand he took that of Castell. It was the pledge of the father and the lover to follow her who was all to them, till death stayed their quest.