Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-08-02

mans sleeping room, while the other was
the large living room IN which the com
pany ct present sat. Overhead there was
a sort of scase4ding, reaching only half 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 1t, close
up the gable end, was the boys bed
There was no partition at the end of this
scaIoldiRg, but it was all open to the room
below.
Spare bedding was spread upon the floor
of the kitchen for the travellers, and every
thing 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 1t. Half an
hour passed away and they could hear their
father snore. Then they heard a move
ment from those below. Philip crawled 81
ently to where he could peep through
crack, and he saw one of the men opening
his pack from which be took several large
pieces of raw meat. The man examined
the meat by the rays of the moon, and
moving towards the end window, he showed
the sash back and threw the pieces of flesh
out to the dogs, Then he went back to the
bed and laid down.
AT first the boy thought this might be
thrown to the dogs only to attract their at
tention 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
when he heard that his poor dogs were 10
be poisoned was TO cry out, but sudden
pressure from the hand of his brother kept
him silent.
At the head of the boys bed there was
dark Window small square door-and
it was directly over the dog house. Philip
resolved to go down and save the dogs
The undertaking " as dangerous one; for
the least noise would arouse the villains
the boys felt assured they were villains
and then the consequences might be fatal.
But Philip Slater found himself strong in
heart, and he determined upon the trial.
His fathers life might be in his hands !
This thought was tower OF strength in it.
self
Philip opened the window without mo-
wing from his 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 lowered on
the outside, and carefully the brave boy let
himself out upon it. He enjoined his bro
ther not to move, and then he slid noise
lessy 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 faithful brutes, and
then he quickly tied the meat up in the
sheet. There was light ladder Standing
near the dog-house, and setting this up a
gainst the building Philip made his way
back to his little lott, and when once safely
there, he pulled the sheet in after him.
The strangers had not been aroused, and
with beating heart the boy thanked God
He had performed an act, simple as 1t might
appear, at which many stout hearts would
have quaied. The dogs growled as they
went back 10 their kennel, and ifthe stran-
gers heard them they thought the poor ami
mails 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 can
die 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 man
upon the ladder He uttered quick whis-
per to his brother, and then lay perfectly
still. The man came to the top of the lad
der and held his light up so he could look
at the boys. The fellow seemed to be sat
isfed that they were asleep, for he soon re-
turned to the ground floor, and then Philip
crepl TO his crack He saw the men taking
knives from their packs, and he heard them
whispering.
"We'll kill the old man and woman first"
said one Of them, "and then we'll hunt up
said one Of them, "and then we'll hunt up
the money. If those little brats up there
Che pointed to the scanolding,) wake up,
we can easily take care of them"
"But we must kill 'em all, - remarked an
other Of the villains.
Yes" returned the first speaker, "but
the old ones first. If we touch the young
ones first they may make 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 Run for the front door
and throw it open-it isn't fastened 0,
do let the dogs INTO the house as quick as
you can. I'll look out for father while you
go!"
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window, and Philip seized rifle and
crept 10 the edge of the scaffod. Two of
the villains were just approaching the door
of his lather's room. They had set the can
die down on the floor so that its light would
fall into the bed room as soon as the door
was opened. Philip drew the hammer of
his rifle back and rested the muzzle upon
the edge of the boards.
One of the men had laid his hand upon
the wooden latch. The boy here uttered a
single word of heart sent prayer, and then
he pulled the trigger The villain whose
hand was upon the door uttered one sharp,
quick cry, and fell upon the floor. The bull
let had passed through his BRAIN.
For an instant the two remaining villains
were conltnnded. but they quickly ccmpre-
hended the nature aud position of their en-
emy, and they sprang for the ladder. They
did not reach it, however, for at that mo-
meut the outer door was Hunu open, and