The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-11
THE BOY HEROES.


anu OeloTe Ine loOt VI clVlllZaJl0n naQ
trodden her giant forests, there lived upon
the branch of the Green river an old hunter
by the name of John Slater. His hut 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 children at home with him-two sons,
Philip and Danel-the former fourteen
and the latter twelve years of age. The
elder children had gone South. His wife
was with him, but she had been for several
years an almost helpless cripple from the
effect 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
the Winters labor, which consisted mostly
of furs. He had received quite a sum of
money, and had brought it home with him.
The old man had several years been &C
cumulating money, for civilization was
gradually 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 their frugal supper, they
were attracted by sudden bowling of the
dogs, and as Slater went to the door to
see what was the matter, he saw three men
approaching his hut.
He quickly quieted the dogs and the
strangers approached the door. They ask
ed for something to eat, and also for lodg-
ings for the night. John Slater was not
the man to refuse request of that kind,
and he asked the strangers in. They sat
their rifles behind the door, unslung their
packs, and room was made for them at the
supper table. They represented them
selves as travellers bound farther West in
tending to cross the Mississippi in search
of a settlement.
The new corners were far from being
agreeable or prepossessing in their looks,
but Slater took no 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 chances
which they gave each other told their feel
ings. The hunters wife was not at the
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 a while the talk lulled to occasional
questions. Philip, the elder of the two,
noticed that the men cast uneasy chances
about the room, and he watched them mar
rowly. His fears had become excited and
he could not rest. He knew that his fathe +
had large sum of money in the house,
and his first thought was suspicion that
the men were there for the purpose OF rob-
berry.
When the supper was over, the boys
quickly left the table, and then went out
doors. 1t was after dark, or rather the
night had fairly set in and there was a
bright moon, two thirds full shining upon
the forest.
"Daniel," said Philip, in a low whisper,
at the same time casting a look over his
shoulders, "what do you think of these
ere men?''
81 am afraid they are bad ones," return
ed the other boy.
$50 am l. l believe they mean to steal
fathers money. Don't you notice how
they look round?'
Eyes"
$50 did l. 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 them,"
eyes, we will watch 'em, but do not let
them know it,
The boys held some further consultations,
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 with theil
father about their suspicious, they had nc
chance, for the strangers sat close by him
all the evening.
At length, however, the old man signifeo
his intention of retiring, and arose to &C
out of doors, to see to the state of affairs
without. The three followed him, but
they did not take their weapons The old
lady was asleep in the chair.
"Now," whispered Philip, "let's take
two of the rifles up to our bed-we may
want them. We are as good as men with
the rifles"
Daniel sprang to obey, and quickly as
possible the boy slipped two rifles from
their pockets behind the great stove chin
ney, and then FASTENED back and emptied
the printing 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
them in The end of the building being the
old mans sleeping room, and the other the
room in which the company at present sat
Overhead there was sort of scaffoldng,
reaching only half way over the large 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 gable
end, was the boys bed. There was no par
tition at the edge of this scaffolding, but it
was all open to the room below.
Spare bedding was spread upon the floor
of the kitchen for the three travellers, and
after every thing had been arranged fol-
their comfort, the boys went up to their
bed, and the old man retired TO his little
room.
The two 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. Philip crawl
ed silently to where he could peep down
through a crack, and saw one of them
open his pack, from which he took several
pieces of raw meat by the rays of the
moon, and moving toward the window, he
showed the sash back and threw the pieces
o. flesh to the dogs. Then he went back to
his bed and laid down.
At first the boys thought that this might
be thrown to the dogs only to distract theil
attention: but when the man laid down,