Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-12-16

IN the end of the building, being the old mans
sleeping room, while the other was the large
living room in which the company at present
sat. Overhead there was sort of scaffolding
reaching only half way over the large room
below it, and in the opposite end of the build
ing from the little sleeping apartment of the
hunter. a rough ladder led up to the scat
fold, and on it close up to the gable end, was
the boys bed. There was no partition at the
edge of this scafolding, but it was open to the
room below
Spare bedding was spread upon the floor
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. They heard movement from those
below. Philip crawled silently to where he
could peep down through crack, and saw
one of the men opening his pack, from which
he took several large pieces of raw meat
They examined the meat by the rays of the
moon, and moving towards the end of the
window he showed the sash back and threw
the flesh out to the dogs. Then he went back
to his bed and laid down.
AT first the boy tho't this might be thrown
to the dogs to attract their attention, but when
the man laid down, the idea of poison flashed
through Philips mind. He whispered his
tho'ts to his brother. The first impulse of
little Daniel as he heard that his poor dogs
were to be poisoned, was to cry out, but a
sudden pressure from the hand of his brother
kept him silent.
At the head of the boys bed there was
dark Window small square door-and 1t
was directly over the dog house. Philip re-
solved to 90 down and save the dogs. The
undertaking was a dangerous one for the least
noise would arouse the villains-and then the
consequences might be fatal But Philip Sla-
ter found himself strong in heart, and he de-
termined upon the trial. His fathers life
might be in his hands This tho't was pow
er 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
bywhich the window was hooked. The sheet
WAS then lowered on the outside, and careful
" the brave boy let himself out uponit He
enioined his brother not to move and then 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 quoted 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 up against the
building Philip made his way back to the
little loft, and when cnce safely there he pull
ell the sheet in after him.
The strangers were not aroused, and with
a beating heart the boy thanked God. lie
had performed an act at which many stout
heart would have quaed The dogs growl-
ell as they went back to their kennel, and if
the strangers heard them they thought the
poor animals were growing over the rcpast
| they had found,
| Atlength the hounds ceased their noise and
| all was quiet. An hour passed away and so
! did another. 1t must have been nearly mid
night when the men moved again and then
| Philip saw the rays of 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
a man upon the ladder. He uttered quick
whisper TO his brother and then lay perfectly
still The man came to the top of the lad
der and held his light up so that he could
look upon both the boys. The fellow seem
Ell to be satisfied that they were asleep for
! he soon returned to the ground floor and then
Philip erept to the crack. He saw men ia
king knives from their packs and he heard
them whispering.
We'll Kill the old man and woman first,
said one Of them, and then we'll hunt up the
money If those brats up their Che pointing
to the scattolding) wake up we can easily take
care of them"
But we must kill them all" said another
of the villains
Yes" returned the first speaker, "but the
old ones first. If we touch the young ones
first they viii make noise and start the old
man up"
Philips heart beat with horror.
Down the ladder-outside, quick" he
whispered, to his brother. Down, and start
up the dogs. run for the front door and throw
IL Open-lt lSn fastened. ", Go let the uogs
into the house asquick as YOU can. LII look
out fol father while you 60"
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window, and Philip seized rifle and
crept to the edge of the scatfold. Two ofthe
villains were just approaching the fathers room
They had set the candle down on the floor
50 that its light would fall into the room as
the door was opened. Philip drew the ham
mer Of his rifle and rested the muzzle upon
the edge Of the boards.
One Of the men laid his hands upon the
wooden latch. The boy uttered single word
of heart-sent prayer, and then he pulled the
trigger The villain whose hand was upon
the door uttered one sharp quick cry and then
fell upon the floor The bullet had passed
thro' his brain.
For an instant the two remaining villains
were COMPOUNDED, but they quickly compre-
hending the nature and position of their en-
envy, and they sprang for the ladder. They
did not however, for at that moment the out