Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-25

folding, reaching only half way ovel
the large room below il, aud i'm the
opposite end Of the building from
the little sleeping apartment of the
hunter. A rough ladder led up tc
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 all OPP
en- 10 the room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon
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. Half an hour had passed
away, and they could hear their
father snore. Then they heard a
movement from those below. Phil
ip crawled silently to where he could
peep down through crack. and
saw one of the men open his pack,
from which he took several pieces
of raw meat by the rays of the
moon, and moving toward the win
dow, he showed the sash back and
threw the pieces of flesh to the dogs.
Then he went back to his bed and
laid down.
At first the boy thought that this
might be thrown to the dogs only
to distract their attention; but when
the man laid down, the idea of poi
son 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 a sudden pressure from
the hand of his brother kept him ST.
lent.
At the end of the boys bed there
was dark window, a small square
door, and as il was directly over the
dogs house, Philip resolved to go
down aud save the dogs The un-
dertaking was dangerous one, for
the least noise would arouse the vii
lains-and the consequence might
be fatal But Philip Slater found
himself strong in heart, and he de-
termined upon the trial. His faith
er's life might be in his hands -
This thought was a tower of
strengthen itself,
Philip opened the window with
out moving from the bed, and 1t
swung upon its leathern hinges
without noise. Then he threw off
the sheet and tied the corner of 1t
to the staple by which the window
was hooked. The sheet was then
lowered on the outside, and care
fully the brave boy let himself out
upon 1t. He enjoined his brother
not to move, and then slid noiseles-
ly down. Inc MOUNDS lad ius,
found the meat, and 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,
aud setting this up against the build
ing, Philip made his way back to
his little loft, and when once safely
there he pulled the sheet in after
him.
The strangers had not been a.
reused, and with a heating heart the
boy thanked God.-He had per-
formed an act, simple as it may APP
/ pear, at which many stout heart
would have qualled. The dogs
growled as they went back into
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.
1t must have been nearly mid
night when the men moved again,
and the lad, 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 a quick
whisper TO his brother, and they lay
perfectly still. The men come to
the top of the ladder, and held his
light so he could look upon the
boys. The fellow seemed to be per-
fectly satisfied that they were a
sleep, for he soon returned 10 the
ground floor, and, then Philip crept
to the crack. He saw the men take
knives, and he heard them whisper
ing,
Wen kill the old man aud wo-
man first" said one of them, and
then we'll hunt the money. If those
little bra,s up there pointing to the
scaffold) wake up, we can easily
take care of them"
But we must kill them all, "
said another of the villains.
4" Yes returned the speaker,
"but the young ones first; they
may make a 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