Was Bess wise to choice to sacrifice herself for the highwayman?

Considering the fact that the authorities did not decline from tying a lady's body to a loaded gun as a bait for the highway man, it is evident that even if they shot the highwayman to death, they would not have left his lover to live. So she knew that she was to die anyway. Therefore it was only logical and clever for her to fire the gun herself and die as a warning to the approaching Highway Man so that at least he can escape. It was not only wise but courageous also for Bess to decide to sacrifice her life for her lover. Even if they would not have captured her she would have done the same thing to warn her lover, because sacrifice is supreme love. Wisdom does not forbid sublimity in love.