Year: 1874

/ ing behind her, the strong necessity of the
case gave her renewed courage; and it was


with perfect GOODNESS that, on his coming
close 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
a strong, thick-set fellow, with good-hu-
mored 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 firm
| ly to his saddle in front, close to the hOl-
sters (for there were twO), one containing
the letters direct from London, and the
other those taken up at the different post
offices on the road. After riding a short
distance together, Miss Cochrane deemed
! it time, as they were nearly half way be-
| tween Belford and Berwick, to commence
her operations. She therefore rode close
I to her companion, and said, in tone of
determination, "Friend, | have taken a
! fancy for those mail-bags of yours, and l
must have them; therefore take my ad


vice, and deliver them up quietly, for am
provided for all hazards. am mounted,
as you see, on a fleet steed; | carry fire
arms. and, moreover, am allied with those
who are stronger though not bolder than
myself. You see yonder wood" she con-
tinued, pointing to one at distance OF
about mile, with an accent and air meant
to carry intimidation. Again, 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 in
slant in silent and unfeigned amazement.
s'If," said he ,as soon as he found his tongue,
"you mean, my young master, to make
yourself merry at my expense, you are
welcome. am no sour churl to take Of
fense at the idle words of foolish boy.
But if" he said, taking one of his pistols
from the holster and turning its muZZle
toward her, ''you are mad enough to har-
Dor one serious thought of such matter,
am ready for you. But methinks, my
lad, you seem at an age when robblng a
garden or an old woman's fruit-stall would
benefit you better, 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 provoke
me to fire."


"Nay," said his young antagonist, 81
am not fonder of bloodshed than you are,
but if you will not be persuaded, what can
| do? For | have told you truth-that
mail I must and ,oilL hare. So now
choose" she continued, as she drew one of
the small pistols from under her cloak and
deliberately cooking it, presented it in his
face.


"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 mo-
ment 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 her.
self out of his 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 Oft
about hundred yards, stopped while she
called to the thunder-struck 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 pursuing his way back to
Belford.


Miss Cochrane speedily entered the wood
to which she had alluded, and tying the
strange horse to tree, out of all observa-
ton from the road, proceeded to unfasten
the Straps of the mail. By means of
sharp penknife, which set at defiance the
appended locks, she was soon mistress OF
the contents, and with an eager hand broke
open the Government 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 she found not only the
fatal warrant for her fathers death, but
also many other sentences inflicting diff
ferent degrees of punishment on various
delinquents. 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.


The intrepid girl now mounted her
steed and rode off, leaving all the private
papers where she had found them, imagin-
! ING (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 warrant,
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
| GriSsell Cochrane. Leaving the cloak
| and pistols behind her to be concealed by
/ her nurse, she again mounted her horse,
and directed her flight toward Edinburgh,
/ and by avoiding as much as possible the
high-road and resting at sequestered cot
tages, as she had done before, and that
only twice for couple ofhours 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 bribe
of five thousand pounds from the Earl of
! Dundonald. Miss Cochrane afterward
married Mr.. Ker, or Morriston, in the
county of Berwick, and there can be little


doubt that she proved equally affectionate
and amiable as a wife as she had already


been dutiful and devoted as daughter.


Sir John Cochrane succeeded as second


Earl of Dundonah.


Great Salt Lake Growing Greater.