Litchfield enquirer., 1853-10-27

the end of the scaffoIding, but it was all open to the room below.
 Spare bedding was spread upon the floor of the kitchen for the three travel lers, and after having been arranged to their comfort, the boys went to their bed and the old man retired to his little room.
 The two boys thought not of slesp. or If they did it was orly to avoid it. Hall an hour passed away, and they could hear their father snore. Then they heard a movement from those below. Philip crawled silently to where he could peer down through crack, and he saw ons of them opening bis pack from which hs i took several pieces of new meat. The Inch examined the msat by the rays ol the moon. and moving towards tho end wind0w. he shovedup the sash and threw tho pieces of meat out to the dogs. Then be went back 10 his bed and laid down. Al first, the boy thought this might have been thrown to the dogs only to attract thelr attention, but when the man laid down, the idea of poison flashed through his mind. He whispered his thoughts to his brother. The first im- pulse of Daniel, when he heard that his poor dogs were to be poisoned, was to cry out, but . sudden pressure from she hand of his brother kept him silent. At the head of the boys bed there was dark window-a small square-door --and i. was directly over the dog house. Philip resolved to go down and save his dogs. The undertaking was a danger ous one, for the least noise would arouse the williams, the boys felt assured they Oere villains and then the consequences might be fatal. But Philip Slater found himself strong in heart. aod he delerm. ined upon the trial. His fathers life | might be in his hands. This thought was tower of strength in itself.
 Philip opened the window without | moving from lis bed. and it swung up. on it's leathorn hinges without noise.--- Then he drew of the sheet and tied one corner of it to the staple by which the window was hooked. The sheet was then lowered upoa the outside, and care- fully .he brave boy let himself out upon 1t. He enjoined his brother not to move and then noiselessly slid down. The dogs had just found the meat. and they drew back at the young masters beck, and Philip gathered the flesh all up. He easily quieted the faithful brntes. and then quickly tied the meat up in the sheet There was light ladder standing near the dog house. and setting this up againsl ths building. Philip made his way back 10 his little loft, and when once safely there pulled his sheet in after him.
 The strangers had not been aroused, and with beating heart the boy thank- ed God. He performed an act, simple as it might appear. at which many stout hearts would have quailed. The dogs growled as they went back to their ken- nel. and if the strangers heard them they thought the poor animals were growing over the repast they had found. At length the hounds ceased their noise and all was quiet. An hour passed away. and so did another. It must have been neatly midnight when the men below moved again. and then Philip saw the rays of a candle Hash up through the cracks of tue floor on which stood his bed. He would have moved to the cracl where he coDld have peeped dosn. ba, at that moment he heard man upon She ladder. He uttered quick whisper tc his brother, and then lay perfectly still The man came to the top of the ladder and held his light so that he could see the boys. The fellow seemed to be sat- isiied that they were asleep, for he soon returned to the ground floor. and then Philip crept 10 the crack. He saw the men taking their knives from lboir pack. and he heard them whispering:
 Wen kill the old man and woman Erst. said one of them. and then veil hunt up the money. If those little bfata up there--wake up. we can easily take care of them
 sBus we must kill 'em all. said an other of the villains.
 Yes, returned the first speaker, bn the old ones first, they may make nois' and start the old man up.s
 1 Down she ladder ouisidei quick whispered Philip 10 his brother. D1wl and start ID the .dogsi Run for ths front door and throw is open, it ian' fastened 0, do let the dogs into lh' house4as quick as you can. I'll look ou fnf father while you % r
 Daniel quickly crawied out throngl l tie little window, and Philip seized . q l fie and crepl to the edge of the scaffold | Two of the williams were just approach ling the door of bis fathers room. TheJ had sel the candle down on the floor q ! that i.s light would fall into the bsd.roon Il as soon as.ihe door was Opened. PhiliI l drew lhe hammer of his rifle back ant rested ahe muzzle upon the edge of th' boasds.
 I One ~ Ghe men had laid his hand up \ on tho wooden latch. The boy hero ut