The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-10-22
tegument which contained what she

| pOsltiou upOH IL aS " give not I'LL
smallest hope of its extraction withou
being aroused from his nap! A few bit
ter moments of observation served t,
convince her that if she obtained posses
sion Of this treasure it must be in some
other way; and again closing the door o.
the bed she approached the pistols, ant
having taken them one by one from the
hostlers she as quietly rs possible drew
out their loading, which having Sc
GREETED, she returned them to their cases
and resumed her seat at the foot of the
table. Here she had barely time to re-
cover from the agitation into which the
fear of the mans awaking during hel
recent occupation had thrown her, wher
the old woman returned with the water
and having taken draught, of which
she stood much in need, she settled hel
account, much to her landlady's content
by paying for the water the price of a
pot of beer. Having then carelessly
asked and ascertained how much longer
the other guest was likely to continue his
Sleep she left the house, and mounting
her horse she set off at trot in differ.
ent direction from that in which she had
arrived.
Making circuit of two or three miles
she once more fell into the high road be-
tween Bedford and Berwick, where she
walked her horse gently on, awaiting the
coming up Of the postman. Though all
her faculties were now absorbed in one
aim, and the thought of her fathers de-
llverance still rcigned supreme in her
figuring to herself the possibility of her
tampering with the pistols being discov
cred. and their loading replaced, in which
case it was more than likely that her life
would be the forfeit of the act she med
itated. When she ut length saw and
heard the postman advancing behind her,
the strong necessity of the case gave her
renewed courage; and it was with per-
feet GOODNESS that, on his coming up, she
civilly saluted him, put her horse into
the same pace with his, and rode on for
some way in his company. He was
strong, thick-set fellow, with good
humored countenance, which did not
seem to Miss COchrane, as she looked
anXiously upon it, to SAVIOR much of hardy
daring. He rode with the mail bags
strapped firmly to his saddle in front,
close to the holsters for there were two),
one containing the letters direct from
| London, and the other those taken up at
the different postotfices on the road.
After riding short distance to-
gethcr Miss Cochrane deemed it time, as
they were nearly halfway between Bel
ford and Berwick, to commence her opera
| tions. She therefore rode close to her
companion, and said in tone of determi-
nation, Friend, have taken fancy for
mail-bags of yours, and l must have
them; therefore, take my advice and de-
liver them up quietly, for am provided
for all hazards. l am mounted, as you
seq IN f1oat StaoI. c,rrv
and, moreover, am allied with those who
are stronger though not holder than my
self. You see yonder wood" she contin-
ued, pointing to one ut the distance of
about mile, with an accent and air
meant to carry intimidation. again, l
say, take my advice, give me the bags
and speed back the road you came for
the present nor dare to approach that
wood for at least two or three hours to
come"
There was in such language from a
STRIPPING something so surprising that
the man looked on Miss Cochrane for an
instant in silent and unfeigned amaze
ment. IT." said he, as soon as he found
his tongue, "you mean, my young mas
ter, TO make yourself merry at my ex-
pense, you are welcome. l am no sour
churl to take oftense at the idle words of
Il foolish boy. But it," he said, taking
one of his pistols from the holster and
turning its muzzle toward her, "you are
mad enough to harbor one serious
thought of such matter am ready for |
S S8q R wien fo6ng garden or an old
woman's fruit stall would betit you bet
ter, if you must turn thief, than taking !
His Majesty's mails from stout man
such as am upon his highway. Be
thankful, however, that you have met
with one who will not shed blood if he
can help it, and sheer off before you pro-
woke me to fire.
Nay" said his young antagonist, IL
am not fonder of bloOdshed than you |
are; but if you will net be persuaded,
what can l do! For have told you a
truth that mail must and wiN hace. So |
now choose" she continued, as she drew |
one of the small pistols from under her
cloak, and, deliberately cooking it, pre-
sented it in his face.
may, then, your blood be on your own |
head" said the fellow, as he raised his
hand and fired his pistol, which, how
ever, only flashed in the pan. Dashing
the weapon to the ground, he lost not q
moment in pulling out the other, which |
he also aimed at his assailant, and fired
with the same result. In transport of
rage and disappointment the man sprang |
from his horse and made an attempt to
seize her, but by an adroit use of her
spurs she eluded his grasp, and placed
herself out of his reach. Meanwhile his
horse had moved forward some yards
and to see and seize the advantage pre-
scented 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 a hundred yards,
stopped while she called to the thunder
struck postman to remind him of her adj |
vice 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 mysteri-
Gus threat had taken effect, and he was
now pursuing his way back to Belford.
Miss Cochrane speedily entered the
wood to which she had alluded, and ty-
ing the strange horse to tree, out of all
observation from the road, proceeded to
unfasten the straps of the mail. BY
means of a sharp penknife, which set at
defiance the appended locks, she was
soon mistress of the contents, and with
an eager hand broke open the Govern
ment dispatches, which were unerringly
pointed out to her by their address to
the Council in Edinburgh and their i'm
posing weight and broad seals Of office.
Here she found not only the fatal war
rant for her fathers death but also many
other sentences intlicting different de-
grees of punishment on various delin-
quents. These, however, it may readily
be supposed, she did not then stop to
examine; she contented herself with
tearing them into small fragments and
placing them carefully in her bosom.
stced and rode of, leaving all the private
papers where she had found them, imag-
lining 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