Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-05-14
The Boy Heroes.


The Boy Heroes.
When Kentucky was an infant State and be-
fore the foot of civilization had trodden her
giant forests, there lived upon the branch Of
Green river old hunter by the name of Slater.
His hut upon the southern bank of the
stream, and save small patch of dozen acres
that had been cleared by his own axe, he was
shut up by dense forests. Slater had two chill
dren at home with him, two sons, Phillip and
Daniel-.the former fourteen, and the latter
twelve years of age. His elder children had
gone South. His wife was with him, but she
had been for several 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 produce of his Winters labor
which consisted mostly Of furs. He hadreceived
quiet a som of money and had brought it home
with him. The old man for several years had been
accumulating money. for civilization was rapid
ly approaching him, and he meant that his chill
dren should start on fair terms with the world.
One evening just as the family were sitting
down to the frugal supper, they were attracted
by the sudden bowling of the dogs and as Slater
went to the door to what was the matter, he
| saw three men approaching.
He quickly quieted the dogs, and the strangers
approached the door. They asked for something
to eat, and also lodging for the night. John
Slater was not man to refuse request of that
| kind, and he asked the strangers in. They set
their rifles behind the door, unslung their pack
and room was made for them at the supper table.
They represented themselves as travellers bound
further west, intending to cross the Mississippi
in search of a settlement.
The new corners were far from being prepos-
sing agreeable in their looks, but Slater took
| no notice of the circumstances, for he was not
one to doubt any man. The boys, however, did
notlike their appearance at all, and quick glances
which they gave each other told their feelings.
The old hunters wife was not at the supper
table, but she sat in her great easy chair by the
fire.
Slater entered into conversation with the guests
but they were not very free, and after q little
while the talk dwinded down into occasional
questions. Philip noticed that the men cast I'M
easy glances about the room, and he watched
them narrowly. His fears had become excited,
and he could not rest. He knew his father had
a large sum of money in the house, and his first
thought was that these men were there for the
purpose of robbery
After supper was over the boys quickly cleared
off the table, and then went out of doors. 1t
had become dark, rather the night had fairly
set in, for there was moon two-thirds full shin
ing down upon the forest.
tDaniel,' said Phillip in very low whisper,
and at the same time casting look over his
menu
"I'm afraid they are bad ones,' returned the
younger one.
% So am l. believe they intend to steal faith
ers money. Didn't you notice how they looked
round?''-
q Yes"
So did I. If we should tell father what
think, he would only laugh at us, and tell US
we were perfect scare-crOws."
/" But we can watch EN-
Yes, we will watch 'em, but don't let them
know it,
The BOYS then held some further consultation
and then going to the dog house, they set the
small door back so that the hounds might spring
forth if they were wanted. If 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 signifed his
intention of retiring and arose to go out of doors
to see the state of affairs without. The three
followed him, but did not take their weapons
with them. The old lady fast asleep in her
chair.
"Now," whispered Phillip, d" let's take two
of fathers rifles up to our bed-we may want
them. We are as good as men with the rife.
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as possible
the boys slipped two rifles from their closets
behind the great stove chimney, and then has
tened back and emptied the printing from the
strangers rifles, and when their father and the
strangers returned, they had resumed their
seats.
The hunters cabin divided into two apart
ments on the ground floor one of them in the
end of the building being the old mans sleeping
room, and the other in which the present COM
pany sat Overhead there was a sort of scafold-
ing, reaching only half way over the room below
it, and in the opposite end of the building from
the little sleeping apartment of the hunter. A
rough ladder led up to the scaffold, and on it,
close up to the boys bed. There was no parti-
ton at the edge of the scaffold, but it was all
open to the room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon the floor of
the kitchen for the travellers, and after every
thing had been arranged for their comfort, the
boys went up to their beds, and the old man re-
tired to his room.
The boys thought not Of sleep, or, if they did,
it was only to avoid it. Half an hour had passed
away and they could hear their father snore.-
Then they heard a movement from those below.
Phillip crawled silently to where he could peep
down through, and saw one of the men open his
pack from which he took several pieces of meat,
by the RAYS of the moon and moving toward the
window, he showed the sash back and threw the
pieces of flesh to the dogs. Then he went back
and laid down.
At first the boy thought this might be thrown
to the dogs to distract their attention, but when
the idea of poison flashed through Phillips
mind He whispered his thoughts to his brother.
The first impulse of little Daniel as he heard that
his poor dogs we're to be poisoned, was to cry
out, but sudden pressure from the hand Of his
brother kept them silent. At the end OF the
boys bed was dark window, and it was direct
ly over the dogs house Phillip resolved to go
down and save the dogs. The undertaking was
dangerous one; for the least noise would arouse
the villains, and might prove fatal. But Phillip
Slater found himself strong in heart and ne de-
termined upon the trial. His fathers life might
be in his handsl This thought was tower of
strength in itself.
Phillip opened the window without moving
rom his bed, and it swung on its hinges without