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.