The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-04

pieces of meat, by the rays of. the moon,
and moving towards the window, he SHOW
ed the sash back and threw the pieces of
flesh to the dogs. Then he went back to
his bed and laid down.
At first the boy thought this might be
thrown to the dogs to distract their atten-
ton; but when the man laid down, the
idea Of poison flashed through Philips
mind. He whispered bis thoughts to his
brother.
The first impulse of little Daniel, as he
heard that his poor dogs were to be poi
soned, was to cry out, but sudden pres
sure from the hand of his brother kept
him silent.
At the end of the boys bed was a dark
window, and small square door, and as
it WAS directly over the dogs house; Philip
resolved to 20 down and save the dogs
The undertaking was dangerous one !;
for the least noise would arouse the viii
lainS, and the consequences might be fatal.
Bat Philip Slater Gaund himself strong in
the heart, and he determined upon the
trial. His fathers life might be in his
hands! This thought was tower of
| ltSClI.
Philip opened the window without mo-
wing from his bed, and it swung on its
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 lowered on the out
side, and carefully the brave boy let him
self out upon it He enjoined his brother
not to move, and then he slid noiselessly
down. The hounds had Just found the
meat, but they drew back at their young
masters beck, and Philip gathered the
flesh all up. Tie easily quieted the faith
full brutes, and then quickly tied the meat
in the sheet.
There was light ladder standing near
the dog house, and setting this up against
the building, Philip cautiously 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 bad performed an act, simple as
it may appear, at which many a stout
heart would have quailed. The dogs
growled as they went back into their ken
mel, 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
nearly midnight when the men moved
again, and the lad Philip saw the rays of
acandEc flash up through the cracks of the
floor on which stood his bed. He would
have moved to the crack where he could
peep down, but at that moment he heard
u man upon the ladder.
lie uttered quick whisper to his bro.
ther, and they lay perfectly still. The fell
low seemed to be perfectly satisfied that
they were asleep, for he soon returned to
the ground floor, and then Philip crept to
the crack. lie saw the men take knives
and he heard them whispering:
1--WE will kill the old man and woman
first" said one Of them, land then we'll
hunt the money. If those little brats up
there (pointiug to the scaffold) wake up,
we can easily take care of them"
:" But we must kill them all, said an
other Of the villains.
Yes" returned the speaker, "but the
old ones first"
Philips heart beat with horror.
Down the ladder, outside! quick !"
he whispered to his brother. "Down,
aud start up the dogs! Run for the front
door and throw il aYsN7-it isM's iastenehy
7 Uh, DO let the dogs into the house as quick
as you can III look out for father while
you go"
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window, and Philip seized rifle and
crcpt 70 the head of the scaiioId. Two Of
the villains were just approaching the door
Of his fathers room. They had set the
candle down on the floor. so that its light
wodld Ealfinto the bedroom as the doc,~
was opened. Philip drew the hammer of
his rifle back, and rested the muzzlc upon
the edge of the board,
One of the men had his hand upon the
latch. The boy-hero uttered single
word of heartfelt prayer, and then he
pulled the trigger. The villain whose
hand was on the latch uttered one sharp,
quick cry, and then fell upon the floor.
The bullet had passed clear through his
brain. ,..... ....
For an instant the two remaining vii
lains were confoundcd, but they quickly
cOmprehended the nature and position of
their enemy, and they Sprang for the lad
der. They did not reach it, however, for
at that instant the outer door was flung
open, and the hounds-four in number
sprang into the house. With deep, wild
yell, the animals leaped upon the villains,
and they had drawn them upon the floor
just as the old hunter rushed from his
room.
Help us! help us! father!" cried
Philip, as he hurried down the ladder
I've shot one of them! They are mur-
derers! robbers! Hold 'em, bold EN- ;"
the boy continued, clapping his hands to
the dogs
Old Slater comprchended the nature Of
the scene in moment, and sprang to the
spot where the hounds had the two men
on the floor. The villains had both lost
their knives, and the dogs had so wound
ed them that they were incapable of re-
Sistance. With much difficulty the ami
mails were called Off, and then the two men
were lifted to seat There was no need
of binding them, for they needed some
more restorative agent, as the dogs had
made extremely quick work in disabling
them.
After they had been looked to, the old
man cast his eyes about the room. They
rested moment upon the body of him
who had been shot, and then turned upon
the boys. Philip told him all that had
transpired. 1t seemed some time before
the old hunter could crowd the whole
teeming truth through his mind; but as he
gradually comprehended it all, a soft,
grateful, proud light broke over his fea-
lures, and he held his arms out to his
sons.
"Noble, noble boys!" he uttered, as he
clasped them to his bosom; "God bless
you for this Oh, dreamed not that you
had such hearts !"
For long tune the old man gazed on
his boys in silence, while tears of love and
! ID Id L..