Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-10-13
Didn't you notice how they

"Yes,"
$50 dbl. five should tell father what
we think, he would only laugh at us, and tell
us we were perfect scarecrows."
"BIt We can watch them"
"Ycs, We will watch 'em, bu, do not ls,
them know IT,"
The boys held some further consultation.
and then going to the dos.house they SC, the
small door back. so ibl, the hound' might
spring forth ifihey were wanted. lfihey had
desired to speak with thsir father about their
suspicious. they had no chance, for the s,ran.
gers sat close by him.
Allcngih, hoScrer. the old mas sisni6,d
his intention OF retiring, and aros, tn 60 out
of doors, tn see to the state Of affairs without.
The three followed him but did notiaks lhel,
weapons. The old lady was fast asleep IN
her chair.
"Now," whispered Philip. "lst's take two
nj fathers rifles Up to our bcd--wo may want
them. We are as good as men with rifles. ="
Daniel spranr TO obey, aud quickly a, pos
,lble the boys slipped two ride, from their
sockets behind N. gr,it stove chimney and
ihon FASTENED back aud empti,d the priming
rom the Strangers rifles, and wheR their "a
thcr and tho strangers returned, they had re-
,umcd their seats.
The hunter, cabin was divided into two
apartments on tho ground loor, one II them
in the end fthe building bein. the old mans
sleeping room, and the other room in which
they now sat.
Overhead VAS r"rgh scafoldinr, reaehinr
only half way over the large room below IT,,
and in the orpo-l, end of ,h, building from
the liuls ,lrernr room of the hunter. A
rough ladder lei up In the 'eifod, and On it
clo.e up to the gable end, va. the hoy, bed
There was M partition at the edg, Of tbs
.caiIoldiug, bu, it was al open to III, room
below.
Spare bedding wa, spread uPon the floor of
the kitchen ror the three travellers, and a0or
everything had bscr arranged for their com.
ror'. the boy' went up to their beds, and the
old man retired to hi. little room.
The hoV' though, no, of'leeP,or ifthcy
did, IL a.. only To avoid H. Half ,n hour
h,d passed away, snd the, could hear their
father snorc. Then thew heard movement
from those below. Philip sravlsd silently to
where be could peep dosn through crack
and saw one oi the men orcn nj, pack, from
Vhich he took several pieces Of nw NEST by
tho rays ofthc moon. SID rnorirr ,osard' the
window, he showed the ,l.h hack ard threw
the pieces Of flesh to,he dogs Then he v,n,
back to his bed and laid down.
At frs, the boy, thought that this might h
thrown to tho dog, only TO distract their a.
tlu,ion but when ih- man laid d5er, ihc
poison flashed through Plilip'' miEi. lie
whispered hi, thoughts To nj. brother. The
fni imrul.e Of little Daniel. as he heard that
hi. poor dogs were to be poisoned ~as to cry
out. bot sudden pressure from the hand Of
his brother Kept him silent.
Atihr end Of tho boys bed there was a
dark window, sr small square, door, ,ni As il
was directly over the dog. hous., Phillip r..
.olrcu to 90 down and save the dogs. The
undertaking was danr,rou, ono, Tor the
least noise would arouse the ylllan,-inIthe
consequence might be fatal. but Philip Sln.
ter found himself strong in heart, and he De.
,ermincd upon the trial. His fathers he
nigh, be ia hi, hands. Thi, thought was =
tower Of strength in itself
Philir opened the window without no,in:
ing from the bed and it swung upon is leath-
em hinges without noise. Then he threw
oir the sheet and tied the corner Of il to the
sap.e by which the window was hooked.
The sheet was ;hsn lowered on the outside,
and carefully the brave boy le, himself on,
upon it. lIe enjpined his brother not to move
and then slid noisclsssly down. The hounds
had Just found the meat, and they drew back
at their young masters beck and Phillip gath.
cred the nesh all up. lie easily quieicd the
faithful brutes, and then he quickly tied the
meat up in tho sheet, There was 4 light
ladder standing near the dog house, and set
ting this up sranst the building, Phillip made
his way back to his lille lon, and when once
safely there, no pulled the ,heet in aflcr him.
The Strangers had not been aroused, and
with heating heart the boy thanked God.
He had performed an act, simple as !, may
appear, at which many s,ou, heart would
have quaisd. The dogs Crowled as they
went back into their kennel and II the ,irang-
ers 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 psssedaway; and
so did another. IL must have been midnlgh,
when the men moved again, and the lad Phil
lip, saw the rays Of 4 candle Hash up through
hecracks Of the floor on which stood his bed.
lie would have moved to the crack where he
could peep down, bot at ,hst moment he heard
a man upon ths ladder. lie 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 he perfectly
satisfied that they wer, asleep. for he soon
retgrned to the ground door, and then Phillip
crcp, to the crack lie saw the men take
knives, and he heard them whispering.
"we1l kill the old man and woman fret" "
said one Of them, ''then we'll hun,ih money.