Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-28

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hunter. A rough ladder led up to the
scaffold, and on it, close up to the gable
end, was the boys bed. There was no
partition at the head of this scaffolding,
bnt all was open to tha room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon the
floor of the kitchen for the three travellers,
and after everything had been arranged
for their comfort the boys went up to
their bed, and the old man retired to his
little room.
The two boys thought not Of sleep, or
if they did, it was only to avoid it. Half
an hour passed away, and they could hear
their father snore. Then they heard
movement from those below Philip
crawled silently to where he could peep
down through crack, and he saw one
of the men opening his pack, from which
he took several large pieces of raw meat.
The man examined the meat by the rays
of the moon, and moving towards the
end window he showed the sash back and
threw the pieces of flesh out to the dogs.
Then he went back to his bed and laid
down. At first the boy thought this
might be thrown to the dogs only to
attract their attention, but when the n an
laid down, the idea of poison flashed
through Philips mind. He whispered
his thoughts to his brother. The first
impulse of little Daniel. as he heard that
the poor dogs were to be poisoned was
o cry Ont but sudden pressure from
the hand of his brother kept him silent.
AT the head of the boys bed there was
a dark window-a small square door
and it was directly over the deg house
Philip resolved to go down and save The
dogs. The undertaking was dane,rous
one, for the least noise would arouse the
villains-the boys felt assured they were
villains-and then the consequences might
be fatal. But Philip Slater found himself
strong in heart, and he determined upon
the trial. His fathers life might he in
his hands This thought was tower of
strength in itself
Philip opened the window without
moving from his bed, and it swung upon
its leathern hinges without noise. Then
he drew off the sheet and tied one corner
of it to the staple by which the window
was hooked. The sheet was then lowered
upon the outside, and carefully the brave
boy let himself out upon it. He enioined
his brother not to move, and then he slid
noiselessly down. The hounds had just
found the meat, but they drew back at
their young masters beck, and Philip
gathered the flesh all up. He easily
Quieted the faithful brutes, and then he
quickly tied the meat up in the sheet
There was light ladder standing near
the dog house, and setting this against
the building Philip made his way back
to his little loft, and when once safely
there he pulled the sheet in after him.
The stranger had not been aroused.
and with beating heart the boy thanked
God. He had 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
mel, 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 pass
ed away, and so did another. 1t must
have been nearly midnight when the men
below moved again, and then Philip saw
the rays of a candle flash up through the
cracks of the floor on which stood his
bed. He would have moved to the crack
where he could peep down. but at that
moment he heard man upon the ladder
He uttered aquick whisper to his brother,
and then lay perfectly still. The man
came to the top of the ladder and held
his light up SO he could look upon the
boy. The fellow seemed to be satisfied
that they were asleep, for he soon return
ed to the ground floor, and then Philip
crept to his crack. He saw the men
taking knives from their packs, and he
heard them whispering.
Well kill the old man and woman
first, said one of them, land then we'll
hunt up the money. If those little brats
up there ihe said pointing to the scaffold
ing,) wake up, We can easily take care of
them"
but we must kill them ALL" said ano-
ther of the villains.
''Yes. returned the first speaker. "but
the old ones first. If we touch the young
ones first, they may make a noise and
start the old man up"
Philips heart beat with horror.
"Down the ladder-outside. quick"