Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-14
THE BOZ HEROES.



giant forests, thsre lived upon a branch o.
Green River. in the western part Of that
state, IN old hunter, by the name Of John
Slater. Ills Int was upon the southern bank
Of the stream, and sase a small patch OF soms
doz-n acres that had b~ea cleared by his axe,
he vss shut up BY dsass forests. Slater hae
hat two children Al home with hiin--two
sons. PhaIip sni Dsniel. the former fourtee n,
and the latter twelve years Of age. His elder
chi ,.ren hss gone South. Ills wife was with
him. hal <h> had bssn Ter several years m
almost helpless cripple from the Objects OF
severe rtcumatisu.
Il wxs early Ia the s,nlug aud The OLE
hunter had Just retarnes from Columbia,
where hs hal been 10 carry the product Of
Ms winters labor. which consisted mostly
sf fars lie had received qaite a sun Of
snoney. and he had brought II HON, with
him. The old man had soE several year
bscn sccamulatiug money, for civilization
WAS RrsdaslIy approaching him ani he meant
thst his children should start on fair term
with the world.
One evening. Just a. the family were at
ting down TO their frugal sappsr. they wsfs
nttfscssd by sudden bowling Of the dogs
aud A. Slater went 10 the door 10 see what
was tho matter, he saw three men approach
tag his hut
IL qalckiy qnsied the dof., and The s,fan.
r-rs approached The door Theg asked Tor
somsthlag 10 eat. and also lodging Cor the
night. John slater was not tho maj 10 re-
fuse a request Of that kini, aud hs asked the
Strangers Ia. They set their rifles behind
the door, unslung their pasks. and room was
made foe than st the table They represent
ed themselves a. travellers boand farther west
ia,sndiag 70 cross the Mississippi Ia search
ola sattlsnsraf.
The new oomers were Ear from bsing
sgrseabis of preposses-lng Ia their looks, but
Slater took no notice Of the circumstance
for u gas not hls nature 10 doubt any mn
The boys. however, did not like their APP
pszrnncs a alt, aud quick glsucss which
they rave each other told Of their feelings
Ths hunters wlfs was not nj The table, bat
shs eat w her great easy ehalf by the IRE.
Sialsr entered lnto conversation vi b tie
susssa. bat they were not very ffee aud
after while the talk dwlnilsd away to mere
occasional questions. Philip, the elder oi
the boys noticed that the msa cast uneasy
xIsncss about the room aud he watched them
narrowly. fiIs fears had become excited
and he could not rest. lie knew that his
father had large sum ofmonsy IN The house
and his frat thought was that these men
were there for the purpose of robbery.
Aflsf The supper was hashed' lhs two
boys quickly cleared OF the table. aud then
they We nj out Of doors THAI become dark
or, rather, night had fairly set in for there
vas q bright moon, two-lhlfds fall, shlulng
down upon the forest.
"Daniei," said Philip, In low whisper,
a the same time casting look over his
shoulder, "what do you think Of those three
rnen1"
'sI'm afraid they're bad ones." returned
the younger boy.
$50 am I. believe they mean 10 steal
Looked around1"
"Yss."
$50 did 1. II we should tell father what
We think, he would only laugh at u, and
hell us that We are scare crows"
"But We can watch EN-"
eyes," returned the ether; "snd We will
watch EN-. but don't LEI them know H."
The boys held some further consultation,
and then going - the dog house they set the
small door back 20 that the hounds might
spring forth II they were wanted. Soon AZ.
forwards they re-sntsred the house. II they
had desired 20 speak with their father about
their suspicious they had no chance, Tor the
strangers sat close by him ali the evening.
AT length, however. the old man sigal6sd
HE intention Of retiring. and arose TO 20 out
Of doors 10 sec the stats Of affairs without.
The Tires men followed him. but they did
NOS take their weapons Tho old lady wa.
asleep In her chair.
"Now." whispered Philip. "lsts take
two Of fathers rifles up to our bed. We
may want 'sm. wesfs as good as men with
The rife"
Dsnlsl spranr 10 obey. and qulekly a.
pcsssbls the boys slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stove chimney
and carried them up 10 their sleeping place,
and then they FASTENED back and -mpssd the
pruning from the strangers rifles, and when
their father and the strangers returned they
had resumed their seats.
The hunters csbia was divided Into two
apartments on the ground floor, ons Of them
Ia tie ead Of the bulltiag. being the old
MAS 80 eplng room. while tho other was
the large living room, IN which the company
II present sat, Overhead thsFJ was a sort Of
scaifsIdlng. fssehiag only half way over the
large room below u. aud Ia the opposite end
Of The bullding from the lllils sleeping apart.
msat Of the hunter A rough ladder led up
10 the sesffold. aud on u. close a. to thu
gable end. was N. boys bed. There was 10
paf,tisa at the edge Of this scaholiing, but
u vas al open 10 the room below.
spare bedding was spread upon tbs floor
Of the kisehen for the three travellers, aud
altar everything had been arranged for their
eamfort. the boys went up 10 their bed. and
the Old man retired 10 bis little room.
The lwo boys thought not Of sleep, or II
they did, II was only TO avoid Il, Half an
hour passed away, and they could hear their
- A. 81
from those below. Philip erawled silently
10 where he could peep down through a
crack, and he saw one OF tho men opralng
his pack, from which he took several piecas
Of raw meat. The man examined the meat
BY the rays Of the moon. aud moving toward
the aud window he showed the sash bask AMI
threw the pieces Of dssn out 10 the dogs
Then no went back TO his bel aud laid down
AT first the boy Though that this might be
thrown To the dogs only TO attract their at
tsntion. bat when th, maa laid down, the
idea Of poison flashed through Philips mind.
lie whispered his thoughts TO his brother
The first impulse Of little Daniel as no heart
that his poor dogs were to be poisoned was
10 cry out, but q sudden pressure from the
hand Of his brother kept him silent.
AT the end Of the boys bed there was a
dark Window small square door-and IL
was directly over the dog house Philip re-
solved TO 20 down and save the dogs. The
undertaking was dangerous one; for the
least noise would arouse the villains-lhe
boys frltassured they were yIlIains-and then
the consequence might be fatal. But Philip
Slater found himself strong in heart, aud ne
determined upon the trial. His fathers life
might be In his hands. This thought was a
tower Of strength ia itself.
Philip opened the window without moving
from bis BED, and II swung upon lie Ieathern
hinres without noise. Then he drew of tbs
sheet. and tied one corner oft to the staple
by which the window was hooked. Tue
sheet was then lowered on the outside. and
carefully the brave boy lot himself out upon
it. lie enjoined his brother not TO move,
aud then he cid noisrlessly down. The
houads had Just found the meat, bat they
drew buck al their young masters beck. aud
Philip gathered the aesh all up. Hs easily
quisted the faithful brutss. aud then he
quickly tied the meat up In the sheet There
was light ladder standing near the dog
house, aud ssitiag this up sgalns, the bald.
ing. Philip made his way back 10 his lutte
Ion aud when ones safely there, he pulled
the sheet IN alter him.
A. A