The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-09-29
THE BOY HEROES.
A scatch of the Eearly Western Ii

A scatch of the Eearly Western Life.
When Kentucky was an infant State,
and before the foot of civilization had
-trodden her giant forests. there lived up
on a branch of Green River, in the west
ern part of that State, an old hunter, by
the name of John Slater. His hut was
upon the south bank of the stream, and
save a small patch of some dozen acres
that had been cleared by his axe, he was
shut up by dense forests. Slater had but
tive children at home with him-two sons,
Philip and Daniel, the former fourteen,
and the latter twelve years of age. His
elder children had gone South. His wife
was with him, but she had been for seve-
raj years an almost helpless cripple from
the effects of severe rheumatism.
1t was early in the spring and the old
hunter had just returned from Columbia,
where he had been to carry the product
of his winters labor, which consisted
mostly of furs. He had received quite
a sum of money, and he had brought it
home with him. The old man had for
several years been accumulating money,
for civilization was gradually approaching
him and he meant thathis children should
start no fair terms with the world
One evening, just as the family were
sitting down to their frugal supper, they
were attracted by sudden howlingof the
dogs, and as Slater went to the door to see
what was the matter, he saw three men
approaching his hut.
He quickly quieted the dogs, and the
strangers approached the door. They
asked for something to eat, and also lod-
ging for the night. John Slater was not
the man to refuse request of that kind,
and he asked the strangers in. They set
their rifles behind the door, unslung their
packs, and room was made for them at
the table. They represented themselves
as travellers bound farther west, intending
to cross the Mississippi in search of a
settlement.
The new corners were far from being
agreeable or prepossessing in their looks,
but Slater took no notice of the circum-
stance, for it was not his nature to doubt
any man. The boys, however, did not
like their appearance at all, and quick
glances which they gave each other told
of their feelings. The hunters wife'was
not at the table, but she sat in her great
easy chair by the fire.
D Slater entered into conversation with
the guests, but they were not very free
after while the talk dwindled away to
mere occasional questions. Philip, the
elder of the boys noticed that the men
cast uneasy glances about the room and
he watched them narrowly. His fears
had become excited and he could not rest
He knew that his father had large sum
of money in the house, and his frs
thought was that these men were there fol
the purpose of robbery.
q After,the supper was finished, the tive
boys quickly cleared off the table; ther
they went out of doors. 1t had becam,
dark, or, rather, night had fairly set in
for there was bright moon, two-third
full, shining down upon the forest.
Daniel said Philip, in low whispe
at the sametime casting look over hi
shou,ce; what do you think of thos
three men?'
I'm afraid they're bal. ones,' returned
The younger boy.
so am I. believe they mean to stes
fathers money. Didn't you notice hoy
they looked around?
Yes
$50 did T. If we should tell fathe
what we think, he would only laugh at
that we are scare-crows.'
But we can watch 'em.'
es, returned the other; and we WI
watch 'em; but don't let them know it.
The boys held some further consult'
rion, ond then going to the dog house the
set the small door back SO that the houn'
might spring forth if they were wante
Soon afterwards they re-entered t
house. If they had desired to speak wi
their father about their suspicious tn
had no chance, for the strangers sat Gle
by him all the evening.
!, At length, however, the old man sig
fed his intention of retiring and arose
go out of doors to see the state of alta
without. The three men followed hi
but they did not take their weapons.