The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-02-11

oparo bedding wex Bprend upon the HoOr OF
the kitchen for the three tfavelcrs, and amer
everything had been arranged for their COM
old man retired "a. his iittic room. 3 ~ !
Tho two boys thought not OF keep. or II
they did, II was only to avoid il. Half an
hour passed away, and they could hear their
father snorc Then they heard movement
from those below. Philip crawled silently to
where he could peep down through crack,
and saw one Of the men opening his pack,
from which he took several large pieces Of
raw meat. They examined the meat by the
rays Of tho moon, and moving toward the end
window, no showed the sash back and threw
the pieces Of flesh out 20 the dogs Then he
went back to his bed and laid down.
AZ first the boy thought that this might be
ton, but when tho man laid down, the dca of
poison flashed through Philips mind. He
whispered his thoughts tohis brother. The
first impulse Of little Daniel as he heard that
his poor dogs wcro to be poisoned. was to cry
out, but sudden pressure from tho hnnd Of
his brother kept him silent.
~ At the head of the boys bed there was a
dark window--a small square door--snd IL
was directly over the dog l,ousc. Philip re-
solved TO 60 down and save tile dogs. The
was dangerous one, for the least
noise would arouse the villains--thc boys felt
assured they were villains and then tho con.
sequence might be fatal. But Philip Slater
found himself strong in heart, aud he dcterm-
in his hands! This thought was tower Of
strength in itself
Philip opend the window without moving
from his bed, and II swung upon its lcathern
hinges without noise Then he drew off the
sheet and tied ono corner Of il to the staple
by which tho window was hooked The sheet
was then lowered on the outside, and carefully
tho bravo boy let himself out upon Il. He
enjoincd his brother not to move, and then he
slid noiselcssly down. The hounds Ind just
found the meat, but they drew back at their
young masters beck, and Philip gathered the
ilcsh all up He easily queted the faithful
brutes, and then he quickly tied the meat up
In tho sheet. There was n light ladder stand.
ing near the dog.housc, aud setting this up
against tho building, Philip made his way
back TO the little loft and when once safely
there he pulled the sheet in AFTER him.
The strangcrs had not bacn aroused, and
with beating heart the boy thanked God.
tic had performed an act, simple rs Il might
appear, ut which many stout hearts would
have quailed. The dogs growl,d as they
went back to their kennel, and II the strnn-
gers heard them they thought the poor nni-
mails were growing over the rcpast they had
found.
AT length the hounds ceased their noise and
oil was quiet. An hour passed away and so
did another. IL must have been nearly mid
night when the mon moved again, and then
Philip saw the rnys Of candle fash up
through the cracks Of tho floor on which
stood his bed. He would have moved TO the
crack where he could peep down, but at that
moment he heard u man upon the ladder
He uttered quick whisper to his brother
and then lay perfectly still The man came
to the top OF the ladder and held his light up
so he could look upon the boys. The fellow
seemed to bc satisfied that they wcrc asleep
for no soon returned 60 the ground floor, and
then Philip crcpt to the crack. He saw the
men taking knives from their packs, and he
heard them whispering.
"Wc1l kill the old man and woman first,
said ono of them, and then wen hunt up the
money. If those little brats mp there (point.
Ing to thc scaflold,) wake up, We can easily
take care OF them.
But wo must kill 'em all, said another
Of the villains.
Yes" returned the first speaker, "but the
old ones first. II we touch the young ones
first they'll make a noise and start the old
man up"
Philips heart beat with horror.
Down tho lnddcr- ouisldc' quick!n he
whispered, TO his brother. Down. and start
up the dogs Run for the front door and
throw II open--it isn't sastencd o, do Let
the dogs into the house as quick as you can.
II look out for father while YOU go ~
Daniel quickly crawlcd out through, the
li.tlc window, and Philip seized rifle and
crcpt TO tho edge Of the scaiiold. Two of tho
villains were just approaching the door Of his
fathcr's room. They had set the candle down
on tho floor so that its light would fall into
tho bedroom rs soon as .lic dnor was opened
Philip drew the hammer of his rife burk
aud rested tho mnxxle upon tho edge of The
board.
One cf the men had laid his hands anon tho
wooden latch. The boy hero uttered single
word of hears.sent player, and ihen he pulled
the trigger. The villain whose hand was u,,.
on the door uttered one sharp. quick cry. and
then tell upon the llcoE. The bullet had PASS.
sd tlroagl, his brain.
For an instant tho two remAining villains
were confoendeti, they quickly compseheading
the nature and position of their enemy. aud
they spfang inr the ladder. They dsd NOT
feaeh II, howesvr, Tot AZ that tnosnenl the out.
es tops wes tinng open, and she hounds four
OF them ~spfeng toto the hcsssr, with dsess
wila ysit, she animals lespel upon the villains,
assd they he'd dyaWn ,hela 10 shs ilocr inss a.
the ODD hunter esmc ignsa his rop,a
Help as. help. fsslleF" csicss rhiiir. "a be
llurTssss Down ihe ladder "iSe shot ono ss
shsal glssy ssp fstssSstseas rutss,Ssx, si,..ss
sse. husd 'ssai" ths issy scntinasai. e,an,,isst
hts hapsis 10 the ,laes.
oNs slssss ssnsgtAefslsss ihe nalusN of tbs
scene IN suetsSNs. SD tfsAng saxsssl shs
stsss where tise hvssslN lad slae swo msn rgsts
lAe fSaf. 3as ssltzsas lsss fesh Iest slssas
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