The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-11-14

sters flor there were two, one containing
the letters direct from London, and the other
those taken up at the different post-of1ices on
the road. After riding short distance to-
gether, Miss Cochrane deemed it time, as
they were nearly half way between Belford
and Berwick, to commence her operations.
She therefore rode close to her companion,
and said in tone of determination, "Friend,
have taken fancy for those mail-bags of
yours, and must have them; therefore take
my advice and deliver them up quietly, for I
am provided for all hazards. am mounted,
as you see, on fleet steed: carry firearms,
and, moreover, am allied with those who are
stronger though not holder than myself.
You see yonde wood,' she continued point
ing to one at the distance of about mile,
with an accent and air meant to carry intim.
idation. "Again, say, take my advice,
give me the bags, and speed back the road
you came for the present, nor dare to ap-
proach that wood for at least two or three
hours to come"
There was in such language from strip
ling something so surprising that the man
looked on Miss Cochrane for an instant in ST.
lent and unfeigned amazement. "If" said
he, as soon as he found his tongue, "you
mean, my young master, to make yourself
"SiiJ az hy CApCAoC, yOu dlO WClCOnCs L
am no sour churl to take offense at the idle
words of foolish boy. But if" he said.
taking one of his pistols from the holster and
turning its muzzle towards her, "you are mad
enough to harbor one serious thought of such
matter, am ready for you. But methinks,
my lad, you!seem at.an age when robbing
garden or an old woman's fruit stall would
beft you better, if you must turn thief, than
taking his majesty's mails from stout man
such as am upon his highway. Be thank
however, that you have met with one who
will not shed blood if he can help it, and
sheer off before you provoke me to fire."
"Nay," said his young antagonist, II am
not fonder of bl0odshed than you are; but if
you will not be persuaded, what can I do?
For 1 have told you truth-the mail must
and ,oiu haze. So now choose" she contin-
ued, as she drew one of the small pistols
from under her cloak, and deliberately cock
ing it, presented it In his face. rs
''Nay, then, your blood be on your own
head" said the fellow, as he raised his hand
and fired his pistol, which, however, only
flashed in the pan. Dashing the weapon to
the ground, he lost not moment in pulling
out the other, which he also aimed at his as
sailant, and fired with the same result. In a
transport of rage and disappointment, the
man sprang from his horse and made an at
tempt to seize her, but by an adroit use Of
her spurs she eluded his grasp and placed
herself out of her reach. Meanwhile his
horse had moved forward some yards, and to
see and seize the advantage presented by this
circumstance was one and the same to the
heroic girl, who, darting toward it, caught
the bride, and having led her prize off about
hundred yards, stopped while she called to
the thunder-strnck postman to remind him
of her advice about the wood. She then put
both horses to their speed, and on turning to
look at the man she had robbed had the
pleasure of perceiving that her mysterious
threat had taken. effect, and he was now pur-
suing his way back to Bedford.
Miss Cochrane speedily entered the wood
to which she had alluded, and tying the
strange horse to tree, out of all observa-
tion from the road, proceeded to unfasten the
straps of the mail. By meanseof sharp pen
knife, which set at defiance the appended
locks, she was soon mistress of the contents,
and with an eager hand broke open the gov
eminent dispatches, which were unerringly
pointed out to her by their address to the
Council in Edinburgh, and their imposing
weight and broad seals of office. Here Eshe
found not only the fatal warrant for her ia
the's death, but also many other sentences
infictng different degrees of punishment on
various delmquents. These, however, it may
readily he supposed, she did not then stop to
examine; she contented herself with tearing
them into small fragments. and placing them
carefully in her bosom.
The intrepid girl now mounted her steed
and rode off, leaving all the private papers
where she had found them, imagining what
eventually proved the case) that they would
be discovered ere long. from the hints she had
thrown out about the wood, and thus reach
their proper places of destination. She now
made all haste to reach the cottage of her
nurse, where, having committed to the flames
not only the fragments of the dreaded war
rant, but also the other obnoxious papers, she
quickly resumed her female garments, and
was again, after this manly and daring action,
the simple and unassuming Miss Grisell Co
chrane. Leaving the cloak and pistols be-
again mounted her horse, and directed her
flight towurdi Edinburgh, and by avoiding as
much as possible the high-road and resting at
sequestered cottages, as she had done before,
and that only twice for a couple of hours
each time, she reached town early in the
morning of the next day.
The time gained by the heroic act related
above was productive of the end for which it
was undertaken, and Sir. John Cochrane
was pardoned at the instigation of the Kings
favorite counselor, who interceded for him in
consequence of receiving bride of five
thousand pounds from the Earl of Dundon-
aid. Miss COchrane afterward married Mr..
Ker, of Morriston, in the county of Berwick,
and there can be little doubt that she proved
equally affectionate and amiable as wife as
she had already been dutiful and devoted as
daughter. Sir John Cochrane succeeded as
second Earl of Dundonald. "