"
"I will do it, for it is my last chance."
He was soon concealed under the heavy folds of the long cloth. A few
minutes afterward, a party of cavalry dashed along the road. An officer
saw the girl and called out to her in a loud voice--
"Have you seen a man run this way?"
"Yes, sir," replied Hetty.
"Which way did he go?"
"I promised not to tell, sir."
"But you must tell me this instant; or it will be worse for you."
"I will not tell, for I must keep my word."
"Let me question her, for I think I know the child," said a man who was
guide to the party. "Is your name Hetty Marvin?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perhaps the man who ran past you was your cousin?"
"Yes, sir, he was."
"Well, we wish to speak with him. What did he say to you when, he came
by?"
"He told me that he had to run to save his life."
"Just so--that was quite true. I hope he will not have far to run. Where
was he going to hide himself?"
"My cousin said that he would go to the river to find a boat, and he
wanted me to tell the men in search of him that he had gone the other
way to meet the mail-cart."
"You are a good girl, Hetty, and we know you speak the truth.
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