"But first," I said, "he is going to find out the traitor who helped me to escape last night."
I supposed, of course, that she would tell him her part in it, having nothing to fear, and I was surprised when she answered me.
"He has been endeavoring to ascertain it already," she said, "but has failed. He thinks Dr. Ambrose is the man, and both the doctor and I are willing for the present to let him think so. You will under no circumstances tell him that it was I. Will you promise me that?"
"I will promise, since you ask it, but it seems strange, Miss Hetherill."
"It is because I wish to be free to help you. If my father knew it was I he would lock me up until you were—were——"
"Executed.
"Yes, that is it, though I did not like to say it."
I could not say no to such a plan, for I valued my life, and any one in my place would have been acute enough to see that Grace Hetherill would be the most powerful friend I could have inside of Fort Defiance. The doctor too must be weakening in his Confederate faith, if he were willing for my sake to rest under his commanding officer's suspicion. But that might be done for love. Pshaw! he was too old.
I thanked her very earnestly for her endeavors to save me.
"I will seek to delay action on my father's part," she said. "Our chief hope rests in that."