Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-25

] iAoiiiC Va SOiih A2lotNis lilo iihN "uo
upon the southern bank Of the
stream, and save a small patch Of
some dozen acres that had been
cleared up by his own axe, he was
shut up by dense forests Slater
had two children at home with him,
two sons, Philip and Daniel-the
former II and the latter twelve
years of age. His elder children
had gone South. His wife was
with him, she had been for several
years an almost helpless cripple from
the effect Of severe rheumatism.
1t was early in the spring, and the
old hunter had just returned from
Columbia, where he had been to
carry the produce of the winters la
Dor, which consisted mostly of furs
He had received quite a sum of
money, and had brought it home
with him. The old man had sew
eral years been accumulating mon
ey, for civilization was gradually
approaching him, and he meant
that his children should start on
fair terms with the world.
One evening just as the family
were sitting down to their frugal
supper, they were attracted by a
sudden bowling of the dogs, and
as Slater went to the door to see
what was the matter, he saw three
men approaching his hut
He quickly quieted the dogs, aud
the strangers approached the door.
They asked for something to eat,
and also for lodgings for the night.
John Slater was not the man to re-
fuse a request of that kind, aud he
asked the strangers in. They sat
their rifles beend the door, unsung
their packs, aud room was made for
them at the supper table. They
represented themselves as travellers
bound farther West, intending to
cross the Mississippi in search of a
settlement.
The new corners were far from
being agreeable or prepossessing in
their looks, but Slater took no no.
tice of the circumstance, for he was
not one TO doubt any man. The
boys, hawever, did not like their
their appearance at all, and quick
glances which they gave each other
told their feelings The hunters
wife was not at the table. but she
sat in her great easy chair by the
/ fire.
Slater entered into conversation
with the guests, but they were not
very free, and after a while the talk
dwindled into occasional questions.
Philip, the elder of the two, noticed
that the men cast uneasy glances a
bout the room, and he watched them
narrowly. His fears had become
excited and he could not rest He
knew that his father had a large
sum of money in the house and his
first thought was that these meu
were there for the purpose of robbie
ry.
After the supper was over, the
boys quickly cleaned of the table,
and then they went out of doors
1t had become dark, or rather the
night had fairly set in, for there was
a bright moon, two-thirds full, shin
ing down upon the forest.
Daniel" said Philip, in a low
whisper, at the same time casting a
look over his shoulder, " what do
you think of these ERE menu
I'm afraid they're bad ones, re
turned the younger boy.
So am |. | believe they mean
to steal fathers money, Didn't
you notice it how they looked
around -
Yes"
" So did l. IL we should tell
father what we think, he would
only laugh at us, and tell us we
were perfect scare-crows
But we can watch them"
Yes, we will watch 'em, but do
not let them know it,"
The boys held some further con-
sultation, 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
signified his intention of retiring,
and arose to go out of doors, TO see
to the state of affairs without. The
three followed him, but they did
not take their weapons. The old
lady was asleep in the chair.
"Now,' whispered Philip, let's
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 quick
ly as possible the boys slipped two
rifles from their pockets behind the
great stove chimney, and then has
tened back and emptied the printing
from the strangers rifles, and when
their father and the strangers retur-
ed, 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 sleep
ing room, aud the other the room in