The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-06-17

nave qudlleu. Lie 0OgS SrOWleu as tney
went back into their kennel, and if the 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 1t must have been
nearl y midnight when the men moved again
and the lad Philip saw the rays of a 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 man upon the
ladder. He uttered quick whisper to his
brother, and they 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 be perfectly satisfied
that they were asleep, for he soon returned
to the ground hoor and then Philip crept to
the crack. He saw the men take knives,
and heard them whispering.
We'll kill the old man and woman
first" said one of them, g and then we'll
hunt the money. If those little brats 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
eyes" returned the speaker, "but not 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 Run for the front door and
throw it open-it isn't fastened! Oh, do
let the dogs in the house as quick as YOU
can! I'll look out for father W lille you GO
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window, and Philip seized rifle and
crept to the head of the scaffod. Two of
the villains were just approaching the door
OF his fathers room. They had set the
candle down on the floor, so that its light
would fall into the bedroom 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
his hand upon the latch The boy-hero ut
tered single word of heartfelt prayer, and
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
enemy, and sprang for the ladder They
did not reach 1t, however, for at that instant
the outer door was flung open and the hounds
I-tour IN number-sprang into the house.
With deep, wild yell, the animals leaped
upon the Williams, 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,
"Tve shot one of them! They are murder
ers robbers Hold em hold 'em!" 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 where the hounds had the two men
upon the floor. The villains had both lost
their knives, and the dogs had so wounded
them that they were incapable of resistance.
With much difficulty the animals were called
Oft, and then the two men were lifted to
seat. There was no need of binding them,
for they needed some more restorative agent,
as the dogs had made quick work in dis
abling them.
After they had been looked to, the old man
cast his eyes about the room. They rested
a moment upon the body of him who had
been shot, and then turned upon the boys
Philip told him all that had happened. 1t
seemed some time before the old hunter could
crowd the whole teeming truth through his
mind but as he gradually comprehended it
all, soft, grateful, proud light broke over
his features and he held his arms ont to his