Demoine courier., 1854-09-07
we may want ,hem-we are az good
as men with rifles"

we may want .hem-we are as good
as men with rifles"
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boy . slipped two rifles from
their POCKETS behind the grea, stone
chimney, and then has,ened back and
emptied the printing from the strangers
rifles, and when their father aud the
strangers returned they had resumed their
seats.
The hunters cabin was divided into
W apartments on the ground floor, one
Of them 10 the end of the building being
the old mans sleeping room, and the
other the room in which the company al
present sat.
Overhead there was a sort OF scaffold.
ing, reached only half way over the large
room below il. and in the opposite end
Of the building from the little sleeping
apartment, OF the hunter. A rough lad.
der led up to the scaffold. and on it.
close up to the gable end, was the boys
bed. There was no partition a, the edge
Of this scafiolding. but it was all open to
the room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon the
floor Of the kitchen for the three ira velers
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.
Philip crswied silently to where he could
peer down through a crack, and saw one
Of the men opeE his pack, from which
he took several pieces of raw meat by
the rays OF the moon, and moving TO.
ward the window, be showed the sash
back and threw the pieces of flesh to the
dogs. Then he wen back 10 his bed
and laid down.
A, frstthe boys thought tina, this nigh,
be thrown to the dogs only to attract their
attentions; but when the man laid down,
the idea Of poison flashed through Phil
ip's mind. He whispered his thoughts
to his brother. The hrs, impulse of
little Daniel. as heard tina, his poo dogs
was TO be poisoned. was to cry out, but a
sudden pressure from the hand uf his
brother kept him silent.
Al the end Of the boys beds there
was a dark window, a small square door,
and as il was directly over the dogs
house, Philip resolved 10 60 down and
save the dogs. The undertaking was a
dangerous one; for the least noise would
arouse the yillsins-and the consequence
might be fatal. Blu. Phillip Slater found
himself strong in heart, and he determined
upon The Trial. His fathers life might
be in his hands. This .thought was a
tower Of strength in itself.
Phillip opened the window without
moving from The bed, and il swung upon
It lealhern hinges without noise. Then
ne threw of the sheet and tied the corner
of it to the staple by which the window
was hooked. The sheet was then low
cred on the outside, aud carefully the
brave boy let himself out upon it. He
enjoined his brother not to move, and
then slid nois.lessly down. The hounds
had just found the meat, and they drew
back al their young masters beck, and
Phillip gathered the flesh all up. He
easily quieted the faithful brutes, and
then he quickly tied the mea, up in the
sheet. There was a light ladder stand.
ing near the dog house. aud setting this
up sgains, the building. 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 aroused,
and with a beating heart tho boy thank
ed Goo. lie had performed an act.
simple AZ it may appear, .. which many
a stout heart would have quailed. The
dogs growled as they wen, back into
their kennels, and if the strangers heard
them. they .hought The poor animals
were growing over the repas. they lad
found.
Al length the hounds ceased their
noise. and all was quiet. An hour pas.
sed away, and SO did another. II mus.
have been nearly midnight when the men.
moved again, and the lad. Phillip. saw
the rays Of a candle flash up lhrough the
cracks OF the floor on which stood his
bed. He would have moved to the crack
where he could peep down. but a, ,ha,
moment he heard . man upon the ladder.
lie uttered quick whisper 10 his brother.
and they lay perfectly still. The man
came TO The top Of the ladder. and held
his light up % he could look upon the
boys. The fellow seemed to be perfect.
~ satisfied tina. they were asleep. for ne
soon returned 10 the ground floor, and
then Phillip crsp, to the crack. He saw
The men take knives, and he heard them
whispering.
"Well kill the old man and m
frs.." said one Of them, .'then well hunt,
The money. II .hese little brats up there
(pointing to the scaffold) wake up. we
can easily take care Of Them"
.But we mus, kill them ALL" said
another Of the Williams.
EYES," returned the speaker. "bus the
young ones first; they may make a noise
and start the old man up"
pht1ipta hoaps koas ,.:,k ko-.~