Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-05-13

crows.
But we can watch EN-
Yes, we will watch 'cm; but do not
let them know it,
The boys held some further consultation
and then going to the dog-house, they set
the small door back, so that the hounds
might spring forth if they were wanted.
If they had desired to speak with their
father about their suspicious, they had no
chance, for the strangers sat close by him
all the evening.
At length, however, the old man signi-
ted his intention of refining, and arose to
90 out of doors to see the state of affairs
without. The three followed him, but
they did not take their weapons. The
old lady was asleep in the char.
Now whispered Philip, lets take
two of fathers rifles up to our bed, we
may want them. We are as good as men
with the rifle
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stove chin
ney, and then hastened back and emptied
the prlming from the strangers rifles, and
when their father and the strangers re-
turned they had resumed their seats.
The hunters cabin was divided into
two apartments on the ground floor, one
Of them in the end Of the building being
the old mans sleeping room, in which
the company atpresentsat. Overhead there
was a sort of scaltolAing, reaching only
half way over the large room below ii, and
in the opposite end Of the building from
the little sleeping apartment Of the hunter.
A rough ladder led up to the scaholG, and
on it, close up to the gable end, was the
boys bed. There was no partition at the
edge of this scanolding, 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 bed, and the old man retired to his
. little room.
The two boys thought not of sleep, or
! if they did, it was onl y to avoid it. Hall
an hour had passed away, and they could
hear their father snore. Then they heard
a movement from those below, Philip
crawled silently TO where he could peep
down through 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 moving towards the
window, he showed the sash back, and
threw the pieces of flesh to the dogs.
Then went back TO the bed and laid down.
At first the boy thought that this might
be thrown to the dogs TO distract their at
tention; but W hen the man laid down, the
idea of poison flashed through Philips
mind. lie whispered his thoughts to his
brother. The first impulse of little Dan
iel, 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.
At the end of the boys bed there was a
dark window, small square door, and it
was directly over the dogs house, Philip
resolved to 90 down and save the dogs.
The undertaking was dangerous one {;
for the least noise would arouse the vii
Tians-and the consequence might be fatal
But Philip Slater found himself strong in
heart, and he determined on 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 lealhern 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 low
cred on the outside, and carefully the
brave boy let himself out upon it. He
euioined his brother not TO move, and then
he slid noiselessIy down. The hounds
had lust found the meat, and they drew
back at their young masters back, and
Philip gathered the flesh all up. He
easily Quictcd the faithful brutes, and
then he quickly tied the meat up in the
sheet. There was a light ladder standing
near the dog house, and setting this up
against the building, Philip made his way
back TO his little loft, and when once safe
Iy 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 many stout
heart would have quaiIed. The dogs
growled as they went back into the 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
-. :ln;.rha ,r.hnl, thn men mOXeu