Washington telegraph., 1854-09-13
THE BOY HEROES.
A sketch of Early Western Life.

SkefCn OF EaFAS w soSteTu Lie.
When Kentucky was an infant State and
before the foot of civilization had trodden
her giant forests there lived upon the
branch of the Green river an old hunter by
the name of John Slater. His hut was up
on the Southern bank of the stream, and,
save small patch of some dozen acres that
had been cleared by his own axe. be was
shut up by dense forests. Slater had two
children at home with him-two sons, Phi
lp and Daniel-the former fourteen and The
latter twelve years of age. The elder chill
dren had gone South His wife was with
him, but she had been for several years an
almost helpless cripple from the effect OF se-
we're rheumatism.
It was early in the spring, and the old
hunter had just returned from Columbia,
where be had been to carry the produce of
the winters labor, which consisted mostly
Of furs He had received quite sum of
money, and had brought it home with him
The old man had several years been acal-
mulating money, for civilization was gradu-
ally approaching him, and he meant that his
children should start on fair terms with the
world
One evening just as the family were sit
ting down to their frugal supper, they were
attracted by sudden bowling of the dogs
and as Slater went to the door to see what
was the matter, he saw three men approach
ing his hut.
He quickly quieted the dogs and the
strangers approached the door, They asked
for something to eat also for lodgings for
the night John Slater was not the man to
refuse request of that kind, and he asked
the strangers in. They sat their rifles be-
hind the door, unslung their packs, and room
was made for them at the supper table
They represented themselves as travellers
bound farther West. intending to cross tie
Mississippi in search of a settlement.
The new eomers were far from being
agreeable or prepossessing in their looks,
but Slater took no notice of the circumstance,
for he was not one to donbt any man. The
boys. however. did not like their appearance
al all, aud quic', elances which they gave
each ether told then feelings The hunters
wife was not az the table, but she sat in hei
great easy chair br the fire.
Slater entered into conversation with the
guests but they were not very free, and az
ter while the talk dwindie1 to occasional
questions. Philip. the elder of the two. no.
ticed that the men cast uneasy glances about
the room, and he watched them narrowly -
His fears had become excited and he could
not rest. lie knew that his father had a
large sum of money in the house, and his
first thought was that these men were there
for the purpose of robbery.
After supper was over, the boys quickly
cleared of the table, and then 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, shining down upon
the forest.
Daniel" said Philip, in a low whisper,
at the same time casting look over his
shoulders, ''what do you think of these ere
men ?"
I'm afraid they are bad ones, j" returned
the younger boy.
80 am l. [ believe they mean to steal
fathers money. Didn't you see how they
looked round ?"
Yes"
so did l. If 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 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 -igni6ed
his inteutin Of retiring. aud rose to 90 oct
Of doors to see to the state of affairs with
out 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 rife"
Daniel sprang to obey. and quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stove CHM
ney, and then fastened back and empted
the priming from the strangers rifles, and
when their father and the strangers return
ed, they had resumed their seats
The hunters cabin VS. divided into two
apartments on the ground floor, one of them
at the end of the building being the old
mans sleeping room, and the other the room
IN which the company at present sat.
Overhead there was sort Of scaffolding
reaching only halfway over the large room
below it, and in the opposite end of the
building from the little sleeping apartment
OF the hunter. A rough ladder led up to
the scaffold, and on it, close up to the gable
end, was the boys bed There was no par
titinr a.. Il. Il. e Il: lr l l.. l.. :.