Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-04-16


every moment TO hear the Indian yell
and feel an arrow pierce her body.
But nothing furtheroccurred TO alarm
her then and she reached the cabin in
safety.
Once more she barred all entrances
and prepared to defend herself TO the
last. She understOodnow, she thought,
why the treacherous fellows had ridden
away so unconcernedly. They had
intended the action for a blind. After
riding out of sight they had dismount-
ed, and having skunk back under shell
ter of the river bank had entered the
bed of the creek. were they were now
living in wait for a chance 10 shoot
down the inmates of the cabin.
That the Indians had not killed her
when they had the opportunity was a
source of thankful wonder. 1t could
not be, she believed, hat they had not
seen her, but they must have thought
themselves undiscovered. Thus She
speculated in fear and excitement.
Through an opening in the front
window her eye took in the broad ex-
panse Of the Mississippi beyond the
ambush of the savages. Suddenly
there came into view, not a mile dis
tant, the well known sail Of the bateau.
Her first feeling was II of delight;
but almost instantly the true situation
flashed upon her and she realized the
purpose of the ambush. \ deadly fear
for her trapper friends seized upon the
brave woman's mind.
She saw il all now. The Indians
had discovered that sail away down
the river. and knowing where the
boat would land they had, after their
cunning and treacherous fashion,
stolen back 10 lie in ambush for the
unsuspccting boatmen. She had not
been seen on her excursion to the
spring because the Indians were intent
upon other victims.
She kept her eyes on the boat; il
was coming slowly on with a light
breeze in its favor; the boys seemed TO
be plying the oars lazily.
What could be done 10 warn them9
II would be certain death to her to go
outside and make any movement like
ly 10 attract their attention. Even if
they saw or heard her, they might
well fancy her to be merely greeting
their return.
Then she thought of the "yTild
Goose Bar" and plan of action came
like an inspiration. The Wild Goose
Bar was a drift of sand which extend
cd into the river from a point several
hundred yards above the mouth of
the creek. 1t connected with a small
island, or rather peninsula, about a
hundred yards from shore. The geese
in their autumn flight often alighted
upon it at nightin great numbers, and
this had given this sand bar its name.
From the lay Of the ground back Of
the cabin knoll Sallie knew that she
could reach a point very near TO the
bar without being seen. ii she might
but safely run the gauntlet Of the sand
stretch to the covert of the willows
upon the island, she would be able to
warn the coming boatmen.
There was,n time 10 lose. By the
time she could reach the island the
bateau would be close at hand. She
opened the back window and, gun in
hand, crawled through and ran down
the side of the knoll into a little
''swale' which extended, for some dis
lance parallel with the rivers bank.
Once on this low ground she bent for
ward SO as to keep her head out of
sight and hurried up 10 n point which
she knew must be about opposite the
sand bar. Then boldly rising upright
she n swiftly across the intervening
ground TO the river bank and slid
down its steep side to the foot of the
bar.
The keen eyes Of the Indians had
seer her at last. They guessed her
purpose and set up a howl like theory
of a pack of wolves. Looking aside in
her flight along the bar she saw them
emerge, a yelling swarm. from the
creek bed, and give swift chase up the
bank of the river.
They shot arrows at her as she ran,
but the range ut first was too great,
and the shafts fell in the water or
stuck lightly in the sand behind her.
Oddly enough she thought Of the
scores Of wild geese that had been fred
upon from the bank and killed upon
the sands over which she was fleeing.
That hundred yards seemed n long
distance. The Indians gained swiftly
upon Ecr and before She could reach
the Island their arrows began 10 whiz
slitcIully past. She would certainly
have lost her life lad nottho boatmen.
who were rapidly opened
fire at this critical moment Their
long range rifles scattered the Indians
and sent them instantly flying.
Sallie had just breath left 10 note
that there were more than two meni in
the bateau, and then she fol- exhaust.
cd and fainting upon the wet sand at
the edge Of the island.
When she became conscious, Briggs
and Ellery were kneeling by her, ono
ON either side, tanning her with their
hats. Her clothing and hair were
drenched with the water they had
thrown in her face 10 revive her.
Looking up, Sallie saw two tall
strangers leaning on their guns and
looking upon her with sympathy and
interest. They now came forward and
each in his rough way-for they, too,
We're frontlersmen - uttered expires
sions Of grateful admiration, mingled
with not a little wonder at the featshe
had performed.
When Gleason returned and tho
story was repeated 10 him, he said,
SIMPLY, but with wet eyes: "Ye're q
brave woman, Sallie, but Ill never
leave ye alone again so longs thar's