Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-12-20
aMisfellaneons.
The Boy Heroes.

den her giant forests, there lived upon the
branch of the Green River. an old hunter
by the name OF Slater. His hut was upon
the bank of the stream. and, save a small
patch of some dozen acres that had been
cleared by his own axe, he was shut up by
dense forests. Slater had two children at
home with hm-tw0 sons, Philip and Dan
iel-the former fourteen, and he latter
twelve years of age. His wife was with
him, but sh had been for several years an
almost helpless cripple from the effect Of
severe rheumatism.
TWAS early in the spring, and the old
hunter had just returned from Columbia,
where he had cen to carry the produce of
his winters labor, which consisted mostly
ot furs. He had received quite a sum of
money and had brought it home with him,
ani he meant that his children should start
on fair ternls with the world
One evening, Just as the family were sit
ting down to tie frugal supper, they were
attracted by the suiticn lowing Of the
dogs, and as slater wen; to the door to see
what wsts the matter, h saw three men aF-
preaching.
lie quickly ordered off Tic dogs, and the
strangers approached the door, They
asked Tor something to eat, and also for
Iodgings fer The night. John slater was
not a iitan to refuse request OF this kind
and Il bed tie strangers III. They set their
rifles behind the l.our, unsluns their packs,
aud room WAS ulGic TOR them al the supper
table They represented themselves as
Travellers boand lartIter west, intending to
cross the Mississippi in search of u settle
mcut.
rhc new comrrs were far from being
agreeable or prcpossesslig IN Their locks
but Slater tGak no heed of the eircun
stances, for he WAS not one to doubt any
man. The inrs however did not like their
appearance at all ana quick glances which
they gave at each other told their feelings.
/ he hunter wife WAS not at table. but she
sat in her grea, easy chair by the fire.
Slator entered into conversation with
the guests, but they were hot very free,
and after II little while the talk d,indied
down into oscasonal questions. Philip,
the older of the two, noticed tn at the men
cast uneasy slances about !he room, and
Hc watched them narrowly. His fear had
become excited and he could not rest. He
knew his father had large SUN al mon y
i'll the house and his first theu5 l.t Was that
tltese men were there for the purpose OF
robbery.
Al cr supper was over the bows quickly
cleared oil the table. and then Went out OF
d0ors. 1t had become DARK, or rather the
nfrht lad fairly set i'll for there Was a
moon two thirds iGll shining down upon
| the lorcs
'DaHeI, said i'iliIip, III Il tow Whisper
at th same th!c casting y look over hiS
shoulder, What do yOd tA.nh oi these
mon
i ain afraid they are bad ones returned
so am /. Relieve they mean to steal
fathers money. Didn't you notice how
carefully they looked round -
Yes
SO did I. II we should tell father what
we think, he would only laugh at Us, and
tel! us we We're perfect scarecroNs.'
But We can watch en-
Yes, we will watch EN-, but don't let
EN- know it
The boys held some further consultation
and then going to the dog house, they sci
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 to him all the
evening
At length, however, the old man siguiii-
ed his intention OF retiring, anl arose to go
out Of doors, to see the state oi affairs
without. The three followed him. but they
did not take their weapons. The old lady
was asleep in her chair.
Now whispered Philip, 'let us take two
of fathers rifles up to our bed, we may
want them. We are as good as meu with
the rife.
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boys slipped the two rifles from
the closet bclind the great stone chimney
and thea FASTENED hack and emptied the
strangers rifles; when their father and the
strangers returned.
TAe hunters cabin was divided into two
apartments on the ground floor, one OF
tiela in the end Of the building being the
| old maa'f sleeping room, aud the ether IN
which the present company sat. Over
head there vas a sort Of scallolding reach
ing ONLY half way over tie room below 1t,
in the opposite end of the building from
the little sleeping apartment OF the hunter.
\ rongh ladder ledup to the scaif0ld, close
up to the boys bed. There was no parti
ton at the end Of the seatioldlng, but II
was all open to the room be! low.
Spare bedding was spread upon the floor
of the kitchen for the travellers, and every
thing arranged for their comfort; h!en the
, BOYS went up to their bed, and the Old man
retired to his li;tle room.
The boys thought not of sleep, or ii they
aid il was only to avoid it. Half an hour
PASSED away. and then they could hear
their father snore. Then they heard a
movement from those below. fAIlp
crawled silently to where lie could peep
down thraugh. aud saw one OF the men
open his pack from which he took several
pieces of meat by tile rays Of the moon.
and moving toward the window, he showed
the sash hack, and threw the p.eees oil
/ flesh to the dogs. Then he went back to
+ his bed and lay down.
4 At first the boys thonght this might be
thrown to the dogs to distract their atten-
tion but When the men lay down the idea
of pois ming flashed through Philips
mind. He whispered his thoughts to his
brother. The first impsise OF i'ttle Daniel
as be heard that his poor dogs were to be
poisoned, was to cry out, hut sudden
pressure from the hand ol his brother KEPT
/ him silent.
At the end of the boys bed was dark
window; a small square door, and it wa;
directly owe. the dogs. Philip resolved
to 90 down and save the dogs. The uu-
dertaking was a dangerous one for the
least noise would arouse the villains, AND
the consequence might prove fatal. Bu