The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-05-03

''N man D oi''p piiS lN'hIj anu t'' NI''Si Vic
room in which the company now sat.
Overhead there was a sort Of scafold-
ing, reaching only half way over the large
room below it, and in the opposite end Of
the building from the little sleeping apart
ment Of the hunter A rough ladder led
up TO the scafOld, and on it, close to the
gable end, was the boys bed. There was
no partition at the edge of this scafolding,
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 turned to his little
room below.
The two boys thought not of sleep, or
if they did it was only to avoid it. Half
an hour had passed away, and they could
hear their father snore. Then they heard
movement from those below. Phillip
crawled silently to where he could peep
down through a 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 he went
back to bed and laid down.
AT first the boys thought that this might
be thrown to the dogs to distract their at
tention; but when the man laid down, the
idea of poison flashed through Phillips
mind. He whispered his thoughts to his
brother. The first impulse of little Dan
iel as he heard that his poor dogs were
poisoned, was to cry out, but by sudden
pressure from the hand of his brother kept
him silent.
AT the end Of the boys bed there was
dark window, small square door, and
as it was directly over the dogs house,
Philip resolved to go down and save the
dogs. The undertaking was dangerous
one for the least noise would arouse the
yillains-and the consequence might be
fatal. But Philip Slator found himself
strong in heart, and he determined upon
the trial. His fathers life might be in
his hands. This thought was tower OF
strength in itself.
Philip opened the window without mo-
wing from his bed, and it swung upon its
leather 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 lowered on the
outside, and carefully the brave boy let
himself out upon it. He enjoined his
brother not to move, and then slid noise
leesly down. The hounds had just found
the meat, and they drew back at their
young masters beck. Philip gathered
the flesh all up. h1easily quieted the
faithful brutes, and then he quietly tied
E 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 safely there he pulled the
sheet in after him.
The strangers had not been aroused
and with beating heart the boy thanked
God. He had performed mn act, simple
as it may appear, at which stout hear
3 would haveq uailcd. The dogs growled
q as they went back into their kennel, and
if the strangers heard them they thought
they were growing over the repast they
had found.
j Atlength the hounds ceased their noise
Y and all was quiet An hour passed away
and so did another. 1t must have been
near midnight when the men moved a
r gain, and the lad Philip, saw the rays O.
a candle flash up through the cracks o
the floor on which stood his bed, HI
would have moved to the crack where HI
+ could peep down, but at that moment h
heard man upon the ladder. He utter
ed quick whisper to his brother, anc
then lay perfectly still. The man CAM
9 to the top of the ladder and held hi
o light up so as he could look upon th,
bows. The fellow seemed to be perfect
Y y satisfied that they were asleep, for h,
Q soon returned to the ground floor, ant
then Philip crept to the crack, He saw
the men take knives and he heart
e them whispering.
: owen kill the old man and womal
i, first" said one of them. " then we'll hun
e the money. Ifthose little brats up ther
(pointing to the scafold) wake up, W
c can easily take care of them" -
@ "But we must kill them al" said an
n other of the villains.
eyes" returned the first speaker
Y "but the young ones first; they ma
n make noise. and start the old man up.
l. Philips heart beat with terror.