The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-04-28

HEN hentucky was an infant
@sMpM State, and before the foot Of
Essf civilization had trodden down
her giant forests, there lived upon a
branch of Green River, in the Western
part of that State, an old hunter by the
name of John Slater. His hut was upon
the southern bank of the stream, and,
save a small patch of some dozen acres
that had been cleared by his axe, he was
shut in by a dense forest. Slater had but
two children at home with him-two sons
Philip and Daniel, the former fourteen,
and the latter twelve years of age. His
older children had gone South. His wife
was with HIM, but she had been for some
years an almost helpless cripple from the
effects 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 product
of his winters labor, which consisted
mostly of furs. He had received quite
sum of money, and he had brought it
home with him. The old man had for
several years been accumulating money,
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 srdden 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
Quoted the dogs, and the strangers APP
preached the door. They asked for some
thing to cat and also lodgings for the
night. John Slater was not the man to
refuse request of that kind, and he kind
" asked the strangers in. They set their
rifles behind the door, and unslung their
packs, and room was made for them at
the table. They represented themselves
as travellers bound farther West, intending
to cross the Mississippi in search of set
Element. le7a
The newcomers were far from being
agreeable or progressing in their looks;
but Slater took no notice of the circum-
stance, for it was not his nature to doubt
any man. The boys, however, did not
like their looks at all, and the quick
glances which they gave each other told
of their feelings. The hunters wife was
not at the table, but she sat in her great
easy chair by the fire. @ s-.v 5a
Slater entered into conversation with
bis guests, but they were not very free,
and after while the talk dwindled away
to mere occasional questions. Philip, the
elder of the boys, noticed that the men
cast uneasy glances about the room, and
he watched them narrowly. His fears
had become excited, and he could not rest.
He knew that his father had large sum
of money in the house, and his first
thought was that these men were there
for the purpose of robbery.
After the supper was finished, the two
boys quickly cleared off the table, and
then they went out of doors. 1t had be-
come dark, or rather night had fairly set
in, for there was bright moon, "two-
thirds full" shining down upon the forest.
"Daniel," said Philip, ID a low whis
per, at the same time casting look back
over his shoulder, "what do you think of
those three men?"
sim afraid they're bad ones, returned
the younger boy.
$50 do l. I believe they mean to
steal fathers money. Didn't you notice
how they looked around"
eyes"
$50 did I. IF we should tell father
what we think, he would only. laugh at
us, and tell US we were scare-crows."
"But we can watch EN-"
= EYES," returned the other, " and we
will watch EN-; but don't let them know
It."
The boys held some further oonsulta-