The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-09-28

20 out VI uooTS W See tue Stdlo OF aHalfS
without. The three men followed him, but
they did not take their weapons, The old
lady was asleep in her chair.
"Now," whispered Philip, "let's take
two of fathers rifles up to our bed. We
may want 'em. We are as good as men
with the rife''
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stone CHM
ney, and carried them up to their sleeping
place, and then they hastened back and
emptied the priming from the strangers
rifles, and when their father and the estran-
gers returned they had resumed their
seats.
apartments on the ground floor, the one
in the end of the building. being the old
mans sleeping room, while the other was
the large living room, in which the COM
pany at present sat. Overhead there was
a sort Of scaffolding, reaching only hall
way over the large room below it, and in
the opposite end of the building from the
little sleeping apartment of the 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
edge OF this scaffolding, but it was open to
the room below.
Spare bedding was spread on 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. Halt an
hour passed away, and the could hear
their father snore. Then they heard a
movement from those below. Philip crawl
ed silently to where he could peep down
through creek, and he saw one of the
men opening his pack, from which he took
several pieces Of raw meat. The man ex-
amined the meat by the rays of the moon.
and moving toward 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 boys thought that this might
be thrown to the dogs only to attract their
attention, but when the man 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 his poor dogs were to be
poisoned was to cry out. but sudden
pressure from the hand of his brother ke pit
him silent.
Al the end Of the boys bed there was a
dark Window small square door-and
it was directly over the dog house. Philip
resolved to go down and save the dogs.
| The undertaking was a dangerous one;
for the least noise would arouse the villains
the boys felt assured they were Williams
and then the consequence might be ia
tai. But Philip Slater found himself strong
in henrt. and he determined upon the trial
His fathers life might be in his hands!
! This thought was a tower of strength in
ITSELF
Philip opened the window without NOV
ing from his bed, and it swung upon its
leathsrn hinges withou, noise. Then he
drew of the sheet, and tied one corner o.
it TO the STAPLE b. which the window was
i hooked The sheet was then lowered on
the outside, and carefully the brave boy
let himself out upon it. He enjoined his
brother not to move. and then he slid noise.
lessly 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 faith
ful brutes, and then he quickly tied the
meat up in the sheet. There was ligh
ladder standing near the dog house, ant
setting this up against the building, Philip
made his way back to his little loft ane
when once safely there, he pulled the shee
in after him.
;. The strangers had no! been aroused
and with beating heart the boy thanked
God He had performed an act, simple
as it might appear, at which many stou
hearts would have quailed. The dog
growled as they wen. back to their kennel
f and if the strangers heard them the,
I thought the poor animals were growing
over the repast they had found.
At length the hounds ceased their nois'
, and all was quiet. An hour passed away
and so did another 1t must have beer
, nearly midnight when the men moved a
f gain, and then Philip saw the rays of
, candle flash up through the cracks of th
| floor on which stood his bed. He woult
) have moved to the crack where he coult
' peep down but at that moment he heard ,
man upon the ladder. He uttered quicl
t whisper to his brother and then lay per
f fectiy still. The man came to the top o
ladder and held his light up SO he coult
, look upon the boys. The fellow seemed
TO be satisfied that they were asleep, 70
he soon returned to the ground floor, ant
/ then Philip crept to his crack. He say
5 the men taking their knives from thei
packs. and he heard them whispering.
!, "We'll kill the old man and old womal
8 first" said one of them, "and then wei
3 hunt up the money. IF those little brat
up there Che pointed up to the scaffolding
wake up, we can easily take care of them.
"But we must kill 'em ALL" said anoth
i er of the williams.
v "Yes,' returned the first speaker, 'bu
the old ones first. If we touch The youn
ones first they may make noise and stal
It the old ones.'
d Philips heart beat with horror.
ssDown the ladder-outside quick !!
he whispered to his brother. ''Down, an
Il start up the dogs! Run for the front doc
and throw it open-it isn't fastened! {
!. do let the dogs into the house as quick q
v you can. I'll look out for father Will