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

THE BOY HEROES.
When Kentucky was an infant State
and before the foot of civilization haC
trodden her giant forests, there lived upor
a branch Of the Green River an old hun
ter bv the name Of Slater.
His hut was upon the southern bank o
the stream, and save a small patch OF som,
dozen acres that had been cleared by biz
own ak, he was shut up by dense forests
Slater had two children at home with hin
two sons, Philip and Daniel-the form
er fourteen and the latter twelve years o
age. His elder children had gone South
His wife was with him, but she had beer
for several years all almost helpless Grip
pie, from the effects of protracted rheu
matism.
1t was early in the spring, and the ole
hunter had just returned from Columbia
where he had been to carry the prOduc,
of his winters labOrs, which consisted
mostly Of furs. He had received quite s
sum of money, and had brought it home
with him. I he old man had for scvcra
years been accommodating money, for civ
ilization was rapidly approaching him, anC
he meant that his children should start or
fair terms with the world.
Qne. evening, just as the family were
sitting down to the frugal supper, they
were attracted by sudden howIlng of the
dogs. aud aS Slater went To the door to SEE
what was the matter, he saw three mer
approaching.
He quickly quicted the dogs, and the
strangers approached the door. They
asked for something To cat, and also fol
lodgings for the night John Slater wa,
not man To cfu>r a request of that kind
and hr asked the strangers in. They SCI
their rifles behind the door, un>lung Their
packs, and room was made iur them at the
supper table. They represented them
s>lycS as travellers bound farther West, in
tending to cross the Mississippi in search
Of Il settlement.
The new cnmerS were far from being
agreeable or prcpoSseSSing in their looks
but Slater took no notice of the circum
Stance, for he was not one to doubt any
man. The boys, however, did not like
their appearance at all, and quick glanccs
which they gave each other told their feel
ings. The hunters wife was not at tho
table, but she sat in her great easy chair
by the tire. ............. &
r Slater eucered into conversation Will
the guests, but they were not very free
and after little while the talk dwindlcd
to occasional questions. Philip, the older
Of the two, ruuccd that the men cast un.
easy giauccN. about the room, and he
watched ihrnmarrowly. His fear had
become cXcitcd;%rnd he could not rest
Ile knew that IiiS father had large sun
%! money in the houst, and his first tho I
vas that these mcn 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 moon two-thrds full, shining down on
the forest.
Daniel, said Philip in low whisper
at the same time casting look over his
shoulder, "what do you think of these
ere mem"
"rm afraid they are bad ones" return
ed the younger one.
"Ss am !; believe they mean to stea
fathers money. Didn't you notice how
they looked around :"
"YcS."
80 did |. II we should tell father
what we think, he would only laugh al
us, and tell US We we were perfect scare.
crows"
But we can watch EN-"
Yes, We will watch 'em, but do not lei
them know it,"
The boys then 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. II they had desired to speak to
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 signi
fed his f1tentien-of retiring, and arose tO
go out of door, to see the state of affairs
without. The three followed him, but
they did not take their weapons The old
lady was asleep in her chair.
"Now," whispered Philip, "lct'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 quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their closets behind the great stove Chin
ney, and then FASTENED back and emptied
the priming from the strangers rifles; and
when their father and the strangers re-
turned to the room, they had resumed
their seats.
The hunters cabin was divided into two
apartments on the ground floor, one Of
them in tine end of the building, being the
old mans sleeping room, and the other
room in which the present company sat.
Overhead there was sort Of scatfOlding,
reaching only half way over the room be-
low it, and in the opposite end of the
building from the little sleeping apartment
of the hunter. A rough ladder led up to
the scafEold, and on it, close up to the
boys bed. There was no partition at the
edge of the scaflolding, 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 retired to his
little room. .--... .......-
The boys thought not Of sleep, or if they
did it was only to avoidit. Half an hour
had passed away, and then they could hear