Now what was I to do? Before God if I had let go of myself for a single moment I would have thrown myself upon him, yet I could have effected nothing; there were only four of us and one of us a woman, and they were a score and a half. If I had killed one or a dozen of them, what remained would have sufficed to carry out their purpose, and then what would be done with my wife? In all that broad realm there was only one man who could succour her--myself! Was I to throw myself away uselessly and force her to shift for herself? Nay, I must bide my time; I must contain myself for her sake. Therefore, although to see her manhandled and ruthlessly dragged from her horse, torn from her saddle, almost killed me, I sat immobile on my own steed. "Don't hurt her," said Stenwold, never looking my way, as if I was not worth further consideration. "We must deliver her in good condition to the King." Katharine made a hard struggle, she was a strong, brave woman, but what chance had she? She looked at me appealingly, she called my name again and again, but I made no response. Presently realising the absolute futility of it, she stopped and stood shuddering on the road. Stenwold's bullies closed about her and forced her to where a small boat lay concealed beneath the bluff. Ere she descended she turned and gave me one look in which love and contempt struggled for the predominance. I dare say that I made a sorry figure, sitting my horse there on the strand with King James' guineas hanging across my saddle bow, unable to hold the wife who had risked so much for me. "Good-by, Richmond," Stenwold called out quite airily as the boat, a large one capable of taking them all in, shoved off. "Any message for the King?" "Thank his gracious Majesty," cried I bitterly, "for his royal conduct toward me and mine, and say to him that I hope to requite him to the full for all that he hath done." _Chapter_ XIII _Wherein I set down in due Course the Resolution to which I came, which boded ill to the King, as I rode southward_ My poor wife did not look at me as the boat rapidly drew away from the shore; she sat helpless in the stern sheets, her face buried in her hands. I shuddered to think of the light in which she and the rest must have regarded me then. I had personal and unequivocal evidence of it immediately, for I found myself tapped on the shoulder. The old Earl of Clanranald had advanced threateningly toward me. "You English coward!" he cried. "Was it for this you married my daughter, who risked her life and honour for you and me? We should have known better than to have trusted any one who had ever been for a moment associated with James Stewart." "And do you believe this monstrous lie, Lord Clanranald?" "Believe it? Can I not see and hear? Draw, sir, if you have a spark of courage left, or I shall run you through where you stand!" "I cannot fight with you," I said; "you are her father." "The more reason."