The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-03-18
CADIZ OHIO WEDNESDAY, MARCH IS, 1853 NEW SERIF

teu the IalthIul DruteS, ana tnen qulckI
tied the meat in the sheet. There was
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, he pulled the
sheet in after him.
The strangers had not been aroused anC
With beating heart the boy thanked God
! lie had performed an act, simple as il may
appear, at which many stout heart woulC
have quailed. The dogs growIed as they
went back into their kennel, and if the stran,
gers heard them, they thought that the poor
animals were growing over the repast they
had found.
At length the hounds ceased their noise
and all was quiet. An hour passed away;
and so did another 1t must have beer
nearly midnight when they moved again,
and the lad, Philip, saw the rays ofthe can
die fash up through the cracks of the floor
on which stood his bed. He would have
moved to the crack where he could peer
down, but at the moment the heard man
upon the ladder. He uttered quick whis.
per to his brother, and they lay perfectly
still. Ths fellow seemd to be perfectly satisi.
ed that they were asleep for he SOON return.
ed to the ground floor, and then Philip crept
to the crack. He saw the men take THEN
knives. and he heard them whispering:
'We'll kill the old mar and woman first, +"
| said one Of them, "and then we will hunt
the money. IF those brats up there (point-
ing to the scafiold) wake up, we can easily
take care of them. :"
''But we must kill them ALL" said an
other OF the villains.
Yes, returned the speaker, "but the
old ones first"
Philip heart beat With horror.
Down the ladder outsidel quickl' he
whispered to his brother. Down and start
up the dogs Run for the front door-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 go.
Daniel quickly crawed through the little
window and Philip seized rife and crept
TO the head of the scafod. Two of the
villains were just approaching the door of
his father s room. They had set the can
die down en- the floor, so that its light would
fall into the bedroom as the door was open
ed.
Philip drew the hammer of his ride back
and rested the muzzle 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 pull
ed the trigger. The villain, whose hand
was on the latch, uttered one sharp, quick
cry, and then fell on the floor. The bullet
had passed through his brain.
For an instant the two remaining villains
were confounded, but the 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 outer door was flung open, and the
hounds entered. Wi h a deep, wild yell, the
animals leaped upon the viliaius, and they
had drawn them to the floor jpst as the old
hunter came from his room.
Help lis! help Us! tathel!' cried Philip,
as he hurried down the ladder, I've shot
one OF EN-. They are robbels mur3erers!
Hold em!, the boy continued, clapping his
hands to the dogs.
Old Slater compreh ended the nature of
the scene IN moment, ard slrang to 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 off,
and the two men were lifted to seat. There
was no need Of binding them, for they
needed some more restorative agent, as the
dogs had made quick work of disabling
them,
After they had been looked to, the old
man cast his ewes about the room They res
ted a moment upon the body Of him who
has been shot, and turned upon the boys
It was sometime before the old hunter
could crowd the whole seeming truth
through his mind; as he comprehended it
all, soft, grateful, proud light broke over
his features, and he held out his arms to 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 in you such hearts.
For a long time. the old man gazcd on his
boys in silence, while the tears of love and
gratitude rolled down his cheeks and his
whole face was lighted up with the most
joyous and holy pride.
Long before daylight Philip mounted his
horse, and started for the nearest settles
ment, and early in the day the officers had
the two wounded men in charge while the
body of the third was removed. They
were recongnized by the officers as criminals
of notoliety. But this was their last adj
venture; for the justice they had SO long
outraged fell upon them, and stopped them
in their career.
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