They accordingly rode back with him until they had come within sight of the three robbers, when Nevison, ordering the two farmers to stand behind, rode up and spoke to the foremost of the three.
"Sir," said he, "by your garb and the colour of your horse, you should be one of those I look after, and, if so, my business is to tell you that you borrowed of two friends of mine forty pounds, which they desired me to demand of you, and which, before we part, you must restore."
Two of the men then made haste to ride off.
"How?" quoth the remaining highwayman. "Forty pounds; d—n me, is the fellow mad?"
"So mad," replied Nevison, "that your life shall answer me, if you do not give me better satisfaction."
With that Nevison drew his pistol and suddenly clapped it to the man's chest; at the same time seizing his horse's reins, in such a manner that he could not draw either sword or pistols.
"My life is at your mercy," he confessed.
"No," said Nevison, "'tis not that I seek, but the money you have robbed those two men of. You must refund it."
With the best grace he could, the highwayman parted with what he had, saying his companions had the rest.