Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-05-02

fldlng Ant OF sight they had d1smounted
and haNing skunk back under shelter of
the ri9lr bank had entered the bed of
the creek Where they We're now lying in
wait for chance to shoot down the in
mates of the cabin.
That the Indians had not killed her
when they had the opportunity was
source of thankful wonder. 1t could not
be, she believed, that they had not seen
her, but they must have thought them
selves undiscovered. Thus she specu-
lated in fear and excitement.
Through an opening in the front win
dow her eye took in the broad expanse
of the Mississippi beyond the ambush of
the savages. Suddenly there came into
view, not mile distant, the well-known
sail of the bdteGu.
Her first feeling was one of delight;
but almost instantly the true situation
flashed upon her and she realized the
purpose of the ambush. A deadly fear
for her trapper friends seized upon the
brave woman mind
She saw it 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 to lie in
ambush for the unsuspecting 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; it was
coming slowly ON with light breeze in
its favor; the boys seemed to be plying
the oars lazily.
What could be done to warn them ?
1t would be certain death to her to go
outside and make any movement likely
to 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 "Wild Goose
Bar and plan of action came like an
inspiration. The Wild Goose Bar was
a drift of sand which extended into the
river from a point several hundred yards
above the mouth of the creek. It con-
nected with a small island, or rather
peninsula, about hundred yards from
shore. The geese in their autumn flight
often alighted upon it at night in great
numbers, and this had given this sand
bar its name.
From the lay of the ground back of the
Sallie knew that she could
reach point very near to the bar with
out being seen. If she might but safely
run the gauntlet of the sand stretch
to the covert of the willows upon the is
land, she would be able to warn the COM
ing boatmcn.
There was no time to lose. By the
time she could reach the island the bal
eoU would be close ut hand. She opened
the back window and, gun in hand,
crawled through and ran down the side
of the knoll into little ''swale" which
extended for some distance parallel with
the rivers bank. Once ON this low ground
she bent forward so as to keep her head
out of sight and hurried up to point
which she knew must be about opposite
the sand-bar. Then boldly rising up
right she ran swiftly across the interven-
ing ground to the river bank and slid
down its steep side to the foot of the
bar.
The keen eyes of the Indians had seen
her at last. They guessed her purpose
and set up howl like the cry of pack
Of wolves Looking aside in her flight
along the bar she saw them emerge, q
yelling swarm, from the creek-bed and
give quick chase up the bank of the river.
They shot arrows at her us she ran,
but The range at first was too great, and
the shafts fell in the water or stuck
lightly in the sand behind her. Oddly
enough she thoughtof the scores of wild
geese that had been fired upon from the
bank and killed upon the sands over
which she was fleeing.
That hundred yards seemed long
distance The Indians gained swiftly
upon her and before she could reach the
island their arrows began to whiz Spite
July past. She would certainly have
lost her life had not the boatmen, who
we're rapidly drawing near, opened fire
1t this critical moment. Their long,
range rifles scattered the Indians and
sent them instantly flying.
Sailie had just breath left to note that
here were more than two men in the
oteau, and then she fell exhausted and
'ainting upon the wet sand at the edge
il the island.
When she became conscious, Briggs
md Elleiy were kneeling by her, one on
sither side, tanning her with their hats.
Her clothing and hair were drenched
With the water they had thrown in her
ace to revive her.
Looking up, Sallie saw two tall strang-
IT'S leaning ON their guns and looking
upon her with sympathy and interest.
They now came forward and each in his
'ough way for they, too, We're frontiers
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