Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-07-13

The hunters cabin was divided into two
apartments on the ground floor, one of them
IN the end of the building being the old man 8
sleeping room. and the other the room in
which the company at present sat. Over
head there was sort of scaffolding, reaching
only halfway 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 to the gable end, was the boys
bed. There was no partition at the edge
OF this scaffolding, but it was all open to 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 Led, aud
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 move
ment from those below. Philip crawled 81
iently to where he could peep down through
a 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 NOV
ing towards the window, 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 at
tention but when the man laid down. the
idea of poison flashed through Phillips 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 sudden pressure from the
hand of his brother kept him silent
A fho 6of% %ho Id 81,
dark window, small square door, and as it
was directly over the dogs house, Philip re-
solved to go down and save the dogs. The
undertaking was a dangerous one for the
least noise would arouse the villains-and
the consequence ght 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 a
tower of strength in itself
Philip opened the window without moving
from the bed. and it swung upon its leather
hinges without noise. Then he threw off the
sheet and tied the corner of it 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 it,
He enjoined his brother not to move. and
then he slid noiselcssly down. The hounds
at their young masters beck and Philip gath
cred the flesh all up. He easily queted the
faithful brutes, and then he quickly tied the
meat up in the sheet There was light lad
der standing near the dog house. and setting
this up against 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 the boy thanked God.
He had performed an act. simple as it may
appear. at which a stout heart would have
quailed. The dogs growled as they went
back into thei" 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 near
ly midnight when the men moved again, and
the lad Philip saw the rays of a candle fash
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 man came to
the top of the ladder, and held his light I'D
so he could look upon the boys. The fellow
seemed to be perfectly satisfied that they
were asleep, for he soon returned to the
ground foor and then Philip crept to the
crack. He saw the men take knives, and he
heard them whispering.
"We'll kill the old man and woman first"
said one of them. land then we'll hunt the
money. If those little brats up there (point-
ing to the scaffold) wake up, we can easily
take care Of them"
But we must kill them all, said another
of the Williams.
"Yes," returned the speaker. "but the
young ones first they may make noise,
and start the old man up"
Philips heart beat with horror.
Down the ladder outside! quickr' he
whispered to his brother. "Down, and start
up the dogs! Run for the front door and
throw il open-it isn't fastened Oh, do let
the dogs in the house as quick as you can
I'll look out for father while you CO."
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window. and Philip seized a rife and
crept to the head of the scaffold. Two of the
villoins were just approaching the door OF
his fathers room. They had set the candle
down on the floor. so that it's light would
fall into the bedroom as the door was open
ed. Philip drew the hammer of his rife
DdCk. anu T6SIGu luo uuZZl0 upOH Tue CQge
of the boards. One of the men had his hand
upon the latch. The boy-hero uttered sin
gle word Of heartfelt prayer, and then he
pulled the trigger. The villain whose hand
was upon the latch, uttered one sharp quick
cry, and then fell upon the floor. The bullet
had passed through his brain.
For an instant the two remaining villains
were confounded, but they quickly compre-
hended the nature and position of their enc
my and they sprang for the ladder. They
did not reach it. however for at that instant
the outer door was flung open and the hounds
-four in number-sprang into the house.
With deep, wild yell, the animals leaned
upon the villains, and they had drawn them
upon the floor just as the old hunter came
from his room. Help us help us! father. .
cried Philip, as he hurried down the ladder
''I've shot one of them! They are murder.
ers robbers! Hold 'em! hold 'emr' the
boy continued. clapping his hands to the dogs
Old Slater comprehended the nature of the
scene in a moment and sprang to the spot
IL. 1o bo1 4bo &11,0