It occurred to me they must be following some well-worn path, from the silence of their approach--the only sound being a faint rustling of dead leaves.

Rale moved forward to meet them across the little open space, and a moment later, from my hiding place among the motionless horses, I became able to distinguish the slowly approaching figures.

There were four in the party, apparently from their garb two men and two women.

The second man might be the preacher, but if so, why should he be there?
Why should his presence at this time be necessary?
Unless the two main conspirators had special need for his services, I could conceive no reason for his having any part in the action that night.

Had I been deceived in their plans?
The horror of the dawning conception that possibly I had waited too long, and that the deed I sought to prevent had already been consummated, left me trembling like an aspen.