"Stop!" I cried as the party came up. Immediately the women checked their horses, but the man seemed as though he would ride on, heedless of me. When he saw that his companions obeyed my bidding, however, he wheeled around savagely.
"Who are you, my man?" he cried. It was Benet Killigrew who spoke. Evidently the women had carefully obeyed my bidding.
"Thank you, Killigrew, for carrying out my plans," I said. "Now you can ride back to your father and the priest, and tell them what a fool you have been."
I heard him growl an oath which I will not here set down.
"What want you?" he cried.
"I could have shot you easily," I said, "but that is not my way. Go back now, I will take care of the lady."
He saw the trap into which he had fallen, but he was not a man to give up easily.
"Ha!" he laughed, "after all, I'm glad of this. You thought I should play into your hands, but, by Heaven, you play into mine!"
He leaped from his horse as he spoke, and I believe that for the moment in his eagerness to fight he had forgotten why he was there.