The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-10-31

help it. Crawl under my web of cloth;
they'll never think of looking there for
you. Get down as quickly as you can,
cousin, for they are almost here, and l
will cover you, and stand sprinkling my
linen"
The governor looked around with the
keenness of hunted deer. His ears and
his eyes told him that it would ne vain
now to attempt to escape by fight,
and his little cousins plan pleased
him.
ut is my only chance, and l thank
YOU" he said. 81 will get down as you
say"
Suiting the action to the word, Gov.
Griswold erept under the great web of
linen, and Hetty saw that he was care
fully covered and then fastened to the
brook to fill her gourd with water.
She was sprinlding the web with her
trembling hands when the British
Dragons rode up, a score of fferce-look-
ing men in gay uniforms, their heavy
sabers elanlting at every movement
their horses made.
The sharp eye of the leader noticed
the little girl in the orchard, and, rid
ing close to the wall, he called out,
sternly:
Child, has anyone passed here with
in half hour?"
eyes, SIR" answered Hetty, growing
very pale. 81 saw man, running very
fast, go by not ten minutes ago.
(Which way did he go?" asked the
officer.
81 promised I wouldn't tell, sir" said
Hetty, sobbing in her fright.
But we are friends of his, and we
wish to give him aid," said the officer,
cunningly. did younot see which way
he went?"
"Yes.s
"And you won't tell us?'
II said promised not to tell, and
won't, even If you kill mel" said
Hetty.
And she looked very brave and de-
termined, though she trembled so that
her teeth chartered.
Don't you be frightened, child" said
a man, whom Hetty recognized as tory
of the neighborhood, and who was evil
IDENTIFY the guide of the party. as not
your name Hetty Marvin?"
eyes, sir"
"And now, Hetty, wasn't this man
your cousin, Gov. John Griswold, and
hSn't he been stopping at your house?'
Eyes, sir" replied Hetty.
"Of course, he said something to you
when he went past-now, didn't he.
Hetty?"
Eyes, sir"
"What did he say?" inquired the
tory, his eyes flashing with triumph.
"He-he said be was flying for his
life"
"Just so, IIetty And he told you his
plans, very likely? Be nice girl and
tell us all he said"
''My cousin told me that he was going
down the river, where some friends
were waiting for him with boat, and
he wanted me to tell the men who were
chasing him that he had gone the other
way to catch the mail wagon"
Sand you promised to do rs he want
ed you to, eh?"
mo, I told him could not, for that
would be telling He"
"What did your cousin say to that?"
"Ho asked me if I wanted to betray
him to his DEATH
"And then you promised that you
wouldn't tell which way lie went, were
you to be killed for it? You are a very
brave girl, Hetty, and your cousin
ought to be very thankful % you. Now
tell us what his last words were as he
ran away, and we won't trouble you
any more"
1t seemed to Hetty as if the tory's
eyes were looking directly at the place
in the web under which her cousin lay,
and her courage almost failed her; but
she answered.:
His last words were: It's my only
chance, child, and l will get down as
you say"
Then, overpowered by her alarm for
her ldnsman, if they should rightly in
terpret the language she repeated, she
carried her apron to her face and
sobbed aloud. But there was no need.
The Dragons had not understood her,
and supposing that they had obtained
correct information, they galloped hur-
riedly down the road toward the river,
while the hunted fugitive lay safe and
quiet in the retreat where the simple
shrewdness of his little cousin had hid
den him.
The governors friends had been on
the alert. He had arranged signal
with the boatmen that white cloth by
day or light at night, displayed from
the attic of his hiding place, should in
form them if he wanted assistance.
Such a cloth had been displayed from
the Marvin mansion. But when the
boatmen saw the Dragons galloping
madly down the road, they rowed out
into the sound. The British, conclud-
ing that the boat contained the fugitive,
gave up the pursuit.
Gov Griswold did not return to the
house. lie lay under the linen web
quite contentedly until night came,
and Hetty went to the house to get her
supper When it was fully dark, Mrs.
Marvin came out with some food and
valise that contained his valuabes and
papers.
Then light was placed in the attic
IL Il, IL
way undiscovered to the river, where he
was received by his friends, who, seeing
the signal light, had returned to the
shore.
Faire o,,;afa1 down In Connecticut