The Forrest City times., 1896-10-09

she said flor that would be wicked; but the British shan't get you ii car bcln if. Crawl under my web of cloth; they'll never think of looking there loi you. Get down as quickly as you can. cousin. for they are almost here, and will cover you, and stand sprinkling my ! linen"
 The governor looked around with the Leenness of hunted deer. His ears and his eyes told him that it would he vain now to attempt to escape by flight, and his little cousins plan pleased 1 him.
 .It is my only chance, and l thank you" he said. "I will get down as you say" Suiting the action to the word, Gov. Griswold crept under the great web oi linen, and Betty saw that he was care fully covered and then hastened to the brook to fill her gourd with water.
 She was sprinkling the web with her trembling hands when the British dragons rode up, a score of fierce-look' ing men in gay uniforms, their heavy sabers clanking 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, sterply:
 "Child. has anyone passed here with in half hour?'
 "Yes. sir" answered Hetty. growing very pale. "I saw man. running very fast, go by not ten minutes ago."
 (Which way did he go?" asked the officer.
 "I promised l 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 you'not see which way he went?'
 "Yes.''
 And you won't tell us?'
 "I said I 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 chattered.
 Don't you be frightened, child" said a man, whom Hetty recognized as tory of the neighborhood. and who was evi- dently the guide of the party. "ls not your name Hetty Marvin?'
 "Yes, sir"
 And now, Hetty, wasn't this man your cousin. Gov. John Griswold, and hsS n't he been stopping at your house?"
 ''Yes. sir" replied Hetty.
 "Of course, he said something to you when he went past-now, didn't he. Hetty?"
 "Yes, sir"
 What did he say?" inquired the tory, his eyes flashing with triumph.
 "He-he said he was flying for his life"
 Just so, Hetty. And he told you his plans, very likelyP 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"
 And you promised to do ns he want ed you 10. eh?"
 ''No, told him I could not. for that would be telling lie"
 What did your cousin say to that"
 "He asked me if I wanted to betray him to his death"
 And then you Iromised that you wouldn't tell which way hc went, were you to be killed for it? You are a very brave girl, Hetty, and your cousin ought to be very thankful D you Now tell us what his last words were as he ran away, and we won't trouble you any more"
 It seemed to He,ty as if the tory's eyes were looking directly at the place in the web under VI hich her cousin lay, and her courage almost failed her; but she answered.:
 His last words were: It's my only chance, child, and 1 will get down as you say"
 Then, overpowered by her alarm for her kinsman, 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 dragoons 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 a signal with the boatmen that a 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 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