The Cedar Co. news-letter. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1853, 1853-11-19

their bed, and the old man retired to his
little room.
The two boys thought not Of sleep, or
Iif they did, it was only to avoid it. Hall
an hour passed away, and they could
hear their father snore. They heard a
movement from those below. Philip
crawled silently to where he could peep
down through crack, and saw one 81
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..a 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 boy .ho't this might be thrown
to the dogs to attract their attention, but
when the man laid down, the idea of pois-
on flashed through Phillips 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
a dark window---a small square door
and it was directly over the dog house.
Philip resolved to 60 down and save the
dogs. The undertaking was danger
Gus one, for the lea st noise would arouse
the villians--and then the consequences
might be fatal But Phillip Slater found
! himself strong in heart, and he determin.
ed upon the trial. His fathers life might
be in his hands This tho't was q power
of strength in itself.
\ Phillip opened the window with9ut
moving from is 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 low
cred on the outside, and carefully the
brave boy let himself out upon it,
He enjoined his brother not to move and
then slid noiselessly down. The hounds
had just found the meat, but they drew
hack 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 stand
ing near the dog house, and setting this
up against the budding Philip made his
way back to the little loft, and when
once safely there he pulled the sheet III
after him.
The strangers were not aroused and with
Ia beating heart the boy thanked God.
He had performed an act which many
stout hearts would have quailea. The
dogs growled as they went back to their
kennel, 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. Ii must have been
nearly midnight when the men moved A.
gain 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 al that moment he heard
a man upon the ladder. He uttered q
quick 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 both the boys. The
fellow seemed to be satisfied that they
were asleep for he soon returned to the
ground floor, and then Phillip crept TO
the crack. He saw the men taking
knives from their packs, and he heard
them whispering.
"We'H xii the old man and woman
first, said one Of them, and then well
hunt up the money. Ii those brats up
There he pointing to the scatfolding
wake up we can easily take care oil
them.'
but we must XIII them all" said an.
other OF the villains.
"fes," returned the first speaker, ''but
the old ones first. II we touch the young
tones first they will make noise and
start the old man up"
!, Philips heart beats with horror.
"Down the laddcr-outside quick =
he whispered, 70 his brother. Down
and start ap the dogs. run for the front
door and throw it open-it isn't fas.eu.
ed !! U, DC let the dogs into the house
as quick as you can. I'll look out soI
father while You GO
Daniel quickly crawled ont through
the little window, and Philip seized d
ri.le and crepl to the edge Of the scadold
Two Of the VILLAINS We're just approach
J ing the door Of the fathers room. They
had SET the candle down on the Zoe So
that lis light would fell into the room q
soon rs tie door was opened. Pnilir
I drewethe hammer Of his rifle back and
rested the mazzle upon the edge Of tie
D boards.
Onc Of the men had laid his hands up-
"a the wooden latch. TIE boy uttered
a single word Of heat-sent prayer, and
then he pulled the trigger. The villain
!, whose hand was upon the door uttered
4 10. -. 4. u