, 1881-06-24

whisky with the strongest, and seldom
swayed in her walk. When her brilliant
eyes were glowing with the rush of the
hot liquor through the pulses of her
being, she could send a steady glance
along the barrel of the rifle and pierce
the targets center three times out of
FIVE. And at such times she would
dance Mexican fandango with Joe of
Sante Fe, or leap from the ground upon
her mustangs back. and giving the shrill
yell of the Sioux, caricole over the level
plateau below Camp Royal with all the
1.-the grace of the aboriginal.
They called her Siseree. She was
Joe's Siseree, and Jim's Siseree. and so
on; only Robert Fairfax and myself
never introduced her to drink, nor to go
off into her wild reyels. L never saw
her speaking 0 Fairfax as to the others,
and did not wonder, for he never spoke
to her.
By and by alarming rumors reached us
of Indian depredations and massacres
among the miners. Small companies of
men were fleeing for their lives IN all
directions, Should we be molested?
We dared not think of the atrocities that
occasional prospectors narrated, for our
claim was ''panning out grandly. There
certainly was everything to fear, and
gloom hung over us.
One night / went to spring for
water. Siseree joined me when a little
;out from the camp. Her manner was
Intensely excited.
"Lennox," she said. in her fair Eng
lish, manifest no surprise, don seem
to notice anything, but glance up to the
red buttes to yo III right, where the sun
beams are paling into dusk. See you
aught?"
My cursory glance revealed nothing.
told her so.
Pretend to stoop and pick this stone
from the path. Take a longer view
away toward the Pilot Knobbs."
Nothing"
"You would never be- a scout. Two
little tufts, like sage-brush, have come
there tonight. at least, they were not
there yestere'en."
''And?"
"They are Indian scouts watching the
1--WE must return and warn the boys"
mo hurry" she said; keep on. They
won't disturb US for hours. l. know
them"
"How long have you been with the
Indians?"
Give months. They robbed the
stage on which I was going to Fort
Laramie, and killed all the passengers
but myself. I was saved by becoming
the wife of the chief"
Here fierce imprecation Missed from
between her teeth.
''I could not escape. had no friends
to rescue me. l was married to him, but
the ceremony, consisting of singing and
dancing and shaking of hands, did not
consider binding. I studied their
language and was to betray them if pos
sible. No opportunity offered, and I
feigned contentment until 1 threw them
off their guard. The night after /
looked into the barracks and saw you
and-and your messmate. I found the
old chiefs heart" and with hideous
meaning she tapped her breast, where
was discernible the hilt of stilleto.
"And taking one of their mustangs, by
long, secret night travel followed your
trail. Ali became skillful in learning
their tricks and their arts, and now"
Iwaited for her TO go on.
The scouts up yonder may be looking
for me. The relatives of my deceased
husband may follow my trail, but the
camp must be warned."
She disappeared from my side before
others of the miners had seen her. On
my return / told them that Siseree had
seen Indian scouts on the hills. Our
camp was seriously alarmed, and
guard was posted that night, and the
next and the next, but not moccasin
track Was seen, nor the shadow of an
eagle feather. l began to doubt the evil
dence of my senses and Siseree's wisdom.
A week passed, and with it the scare of
.laI 4
were rich, and We were planning the
concern fell over us. Only Siseree
abated neither her fears nor her yigils.
From midnight through the small hours
of the morning she moved out and in the
camp. Awaken at any time then, and
you would see her going out or coming
in, or crouching in the canvas doorway,
always with Santa Fe Joe's rifle in hand.
With this weapon she was most ia
miliar, and could hit the target at long
est range.
One night was awakened by cool,
firm hand being placed over my mouth
and Siseree's subdued whisper:
''Lenox, don't get up-creep over the
men; come outside"
She moved away, and dropping on her
hands and knees at the doorway, went
out with the 1.-the grace and stiffness of
ioness creeping on its prey.
joined her, and again she whispered:
''Take a sight by this tent stake up the
slope to the south of the canon. Now,
were those bushes there at sunset?
was ashamed to acknowledge that I
did not know.
''Well, now look another way for five
minutes, and then again take the bear
ings."
All. now I perceive the dark spots have
moved. They were not far from the camp
now.
1t was a night, or early morning attack
that was meditated.
"Creep noiselessly in and awaken the
camp" she said. Don't let them make
n sound"
But this could not be done with dis
patch. Aroused from deep and dream
less sleep, with always some imprudent
ones in such a company, some sleepy ex-
clamations were made. which precipi-
tated the catastrophe. With their pecu-
liar cry the savages were upon u.s.
In the first, faint glimmer of morning,
Camp Royal made a stand for its life.
Outnumbered, two to one, the struggle
was futile, but desperate one. The
poor boys fell rapidly. At last, only
Robert Fairfax, myself, and Siseree were
left against the desperate Odds