The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-09

pieces 0. meat, by the rays Of the moon
and moving toward the window, h shov-
cd the sash back and threw the pieces OF
flesh to the dogs. Then he went hack tc
his bed and laid down.
~ first the boy thought this might be
thrown 70 the dogs to distract their atten-
ton; but when the man laid down. the
IDEA oi poison flashed through Philips
mind. lie whispered his thoughts to his
brother. The first impulse Of little Daniel,
as he heard that his poor dogs were to be
poisoned, was to cry out, but q sudden
pressure from the hand Of his brother kept
him sileGt.
At the end Of the boys bed wa, 4 dark
window, a small square door, and it was
directly over the dogs house. Philip re-
solved to 20 down and save the dogs. The
undertaking was 4 dangerous one: for the
least noise would arouse the Williams. and
might prove fatal. But Philip Slater.
found himself strong in heart, and ne de-
terfnined upon the trial. His fathers life
might be in his hands, This thought was
tower Of strength in itself.
! Philip opened the window without moy-
ing from his bed, and it swung on It's him
ges without noise. Then he threw off the
| sheet and tied the corner TO the staple by
which the window was hooked. The sheet
was then lowered on the outside. and care
fully the brave boy let himself out upon it.
lie enjoined his brother not TO move. and
then he slid noiselessly down. The hounds
| had just found their meat, but they drew
back At their young masters beck, and
Philip gathered the flesh all up He easily
Guieted the faithful brntes, and then quick
~ tied the meat in sheet. There was a
| light ladder standing near the dog house.
and setting this up against the building,
Phliip made his way back to his little loft,
ana when once safely there, lie pulled the
sheet in after him.
/ Tho "a ho1 Ioo , =
with beating heart the boy thanked God.
he had performed an act, simple as it NAV
appear, at which many a stout heart would
have quailed. The dogs growleG as they
went back into their kennel, and if the
strangers heard them, they thought the
poor ANIMALS We're growing over the re-
past they had found.
| At length the hounds ceased their noise.
and all was quiet. An hour passed away,
and so did another. It must have be en-
nearly midnight when they moved again,
and the lad Philip saw the rays Of candle
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 man
! upon the ladder. He uttered quick whis-
per to his brother, and they lay perfectly
still. The fellow seemed TO be Perfectly
satisfied that they were asleep, for ne soon
! returned to the ground floor and then Phil
ip crept to the crack. He saw the men take
knives, and he heard them Whispering:
| We'll Kill the old man and woman
| first, said one Of them, "and then we'll
hunt the money. If those little brats up
there (pointing TO the scaffoldl wake up,
we can easily take care Of them.'
But we must kill them ALL said anoth-
er Of the villains.
| :. Yes returned the speaker, "but the
old ones first.
| Philips heart beat with horror.
| Down the ladder outside! quickr' he
whispered to his brother. "Dowa. and
start up the dogs! Run for the front door
and throw it open-it isn't fastened. Oh
do let the dogs into the house as quick as
| you can. I'll look out for father while you
gov
Daniel quickly crawled cut through the
| little window and Philip seized rifle and
| crept to the head Of the scaffoid Two of
| the villains were just approaching the
set the candle down on the floor, so
that its light would fall into the bedroom
as the door was opened. Philip drew the
hammer Of his rifle back and rested the
| mnzzle upon the edge OF the board. One
| of the men had his hand upon the latch.-
The boy here uttered u single word Of
heart felt 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 through his brain.
For an instant the two remaining villains
were confounded, but they quickly COM
pretended the nature and position Of their
enemy, and they sprang for the ladder
They did not reach it, however, for at that
instant the onter door was flung open, and
the hounds-fOur in number-snrang into
the house. With deep, wild yell. the an
imals leaped upon the villains. and they
had drawn them to the floor Just rs the old
nnnfpr 20 n from bi0
Help us! help US! father!'' cried Philip,
as he hurried down the ladder. cry We shot
one OF them! They are murderers! rob-
bers! Hold 'em!' the boy continued,
| clappng his hands to the dogs.
Old Slater comprehended the nature Of
the scene in moment, and sprang 10 the
spot where the hounds had the two men on
the floor. The Villains had both lost their
knives, and the dogs had SO wounded them
that they were incapable Of resistance
With much difficulty the animals were
called of, and then the two men were lifted
10 9, seat. There was no need of binding
them, they needed some more restorative
agent, as the dogs had made quick work in
disabling them.
After they had been looked to, the old
man cast his eyesabout.the room. They rest
ed moment upon the body OF him " no had
neen shot, and turned upon the boys
Phillip told him all that had transpired.-
It seemed some time before the old hunter
could crowd the whole teeming truth thro'
his mind; but rs he gradually comprehend
ed 1t all, a soft grateful, proud light broke
over his features, and he held his arms out
o 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 a long time the man gazad on his
boys in silence: while the tears of love and
gratitude rolled down his cheeks. and his
whole face was lighted with the most low
Gus, holy pride.
Long before daylight Philip mounted his
horse and started for the nearest settlement
and early in the day the offichrs had the
two wounded men in charge. while the
body of the third was removed. They were
recognized by the officers as criminals Of
notoriety; but this was their last adventure
for the justice they had so long outraged
fell upon them and stopped them in their
career.
DOING N ROME AS THE ROMANS Do
The Catholic TcycUr0Ob relates tho f,llou,