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

UeltTe lie IOOt OF clNlXHllOn EaU IEOGueu
her giant forests, there lived upon a branch
Of the Green River an old hunter by the
name of Slater, His nut was upon the
southern bank Of the stream. and save
small patch Of some 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, Philip
and Daniei-the former fourteen and the
latter twelve years Of age. His eldef chill
dren 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 had received quite q sum Of
money and had brought it home with him.
The old man had for several years been
accommodating money, for civilization was
rapidly approaching him, and he meant
that his children should start on fair terms
with the world.
One evening, just as the family were sit
ting down to the frugal supper, they were
attracted by the sudden bowling of the
dogs, and as Slater went to the door to see
what was the matter, he saw three men APP
preaching.
He quickly quieted the dogs, and the
strangers approached the t'nor. They ask
ed for something to eat, and also for lodg-
ings 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 settle
ment.
The new comers were far from sheing
agreeable or prepossessing in their looks,
but Slater took 10 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 glances which
they gave at each other told their feelings.
The hunters wife was not at the table, but
she sat in her great easy chair by the tire.
Slater entered into conversation with the
guests, but they were not very free, and af-
ter little while the talk dwindled into oc-
casional questions. Philip, the older of the
two, noticed that the men cast uneasy CLAN
ces 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 tLese men were
there for the purpose OF robbery.
After supper was over the bows quickly
cleared of the table, and then went out Of
doors. IT had become dark, or rather the
night had fairly set in, for there was a
moon two-thirds full shining down upon
the forest.
Daniel said Phillip, in low whisper,
at the same time casting look over his
shoulder, what do you think Of these 'ere
men?'
''I'm afraid they are bad ones,'' returned
the younger one.
$50 am !. / believe they mean to steal
father money. Didn't you notice how they
looked round?"
"Yes'
$50 did I. If we should tell father what
we 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 consul
tation, and then going to the dog house,
they set the small door back, so that the
hounds might spring forth ii they were
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 signified
his intention Of retiring, arose to go out of
doors, 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, ,~lets taketwo
of fathers rifles up to our bed-we may
want them. We are us 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 CHM
ney, and then fastened back and emptied
the priming from the strangers rifles; and
when their father and the strangers return
ed, they had resumed their seats.
The hunters cabin was divided into two
apartments 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 company sat. Overhead
there was a sort Of scatfolding, 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 scatfold, and
on it, close up to the boys bed. There
was no partition 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
everything had been arranged for their
comfort, the boys went up to their beds,
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 their father snore. Then they heard