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

P-t.eS " meat, by the rays OF tEe moon
and moving toward the window, he shoy.
ed the sash back and threw the pieces q
flesh to the dogs. Then he went hack tC
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 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 4 sudden
pressure from the hand OF his brother kept
him sileUt.
AT the end of the boys bed was dark
window, small square door, and it was
directly over the dogs house. Philip re-
solved to go down and save the dogs The
undertaking was q dangerous one for the
least noise would arouse the Williams. and
might prove fatal. But Philip Slater.
found himself strong in heart, and no de-
termned upon the trial. His fathers life
might be in his hands, This thought was
a tower of strength in itself.
Philip opened the window without NOV
ing from his bed, and it swung on its 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.
| he 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
quoted the faithful brutes, and then quick
! ly tied the meat in sheet. There was q
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, lie pulled the
| sheet in after him.
| The strangers had not been aroused. and
with beating heart the boy thanked God.
HE had performed an act, simple as it may
appear, at which many a stout heart would
have quailed. The dogs growled as thew
went back into their kennel, and if the
strangers heard them, they thought the
poor animals were growing over the re-
| past they had found.
| AT length the hounds ceased their noise.
and all was quiet. An hour passed away.
and 50 did another. It must have beer
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-
still. The fellow seemed to be perfectly
satisfied that they were asleep, for ne soon
returned to the ground floor, and then Phil
/ p crept t. the crack. He saw the men take
hives, and he heard them whispering:
We'll Kill the old man and woman
first said one of them, land then we'll
hunt the money. If those little brats up
there (pointing to the scaffold) 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.
UnOwn thu 1aIIov nutc;Iot n,,f,I- ~
whispered to his brother. Down. 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
gow
Daniel quickly crawled out through the
| little window and Philip seized a rife and
crept 70 the head of the scaffold. 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 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 a 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 COMPOUNDED, 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-1our in number-sprang into
the house. With deep, wild yell, the an
imals leaped upon the villains, and they
had drawn them to the floor just as the old
hunter came from his room.
Help us! help US! father!'' cried Philip.
as he hurried down the ladder. ''rve shot
one of them! They are murderers! rob-
bers! Hold 'em!" the boy continued.
capping his hands to the dogs.
Old Slater comprehended the nature Of
the scene in a moment, and sprang 20 the
spot where the hounds had the two men on
the floor. The villains had both lost their
knives, and the dogs had 50 wounded them
that they We're incapable Of resistance
called OFF, and then the two men were lifted
20 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 eyes aboutthe room. They rest
cd moment upon the body OF him " no had
been shot, and turned upon the boys
Phillip told him all that had TRANSFERRED
II seemed some time before the old hunter
could crowd the whole teeming truth thro'
his mind; but rs he gradually comprehend
ed 1t all, soft grateful, proud light broke
over his features, and he held his arms out
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 heartsv'
For long time the man gazei 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 joy
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
recognized by the officers as criminals or
notoriety; but this was their last adventure
for the justice they had SO long outraged
fell upon them and stopped them il their
career.
DOING IN ROME AS THE ROMANS d.