Year: 1862

Green River, an old hunter By the name o
Slater


His hut was on the southern bank of The
stream, and save small patch of some dozer
acres that had been cleared up by bis own ak
he was shut up by dense forests. Slater had
two children at home with bim-two boys
Philip and Daniel-fhe former fourteen and
the latter twelve years of age. His elder chill
dren had gone South. His wife was with him
but be had been for several years an almost
helpless cripple from the effects of protracted
rheumatism.


! 1t was early in the Spring and the Old hun
ter had just returned from Columbia. where be
bad been to carry the products Of bis Winters
labors, which consisted mostly of furs He bad
received quite sum of money and had brought
it home with him. The old man had for seye-
raj years been aecumulating money, for civil.
zation 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 sitting
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 approaching.


He quickly quieted the dogs, and the stran-
gers approached the door. They asked for
something to eat, and also for lodgings for the
night John Slater was not man to refuse a
request OF that kind, and he asked the strang-
ers in. They set their rifles behind the door,
unslung their packs, and room was made for
them at the supper tabble. They represented
themselves as travellers, bound farther West,
intending to cross the Mississippi in search of
a good settlement


The newcomers were far from being agreeable
or preposSessing in their looks, but Slater took
no notice of the circumstance, 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 each other told their
feelings. The hunters wife was not at the ta-
BILE, 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 little while the talk dwlndled to occa-
sonal questions. Philip, the elder of the two
boys noticed that the men cast uneasy glances
around the room and he watched them mar
rowly. His fears had become excited, and be
could not rest. He knew that his father had
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, or rather the
night had fairly set in, for there was a moon
two thirds full, shining down upon the forest


Daniel" said Philip in low whisper, at
the same time casting a look over his shoulder,
what do you think of these ere men,"


I'm afraid they are bad ones" returned
the younger one.


So am l !; believe they mean to steal fa-
thers money. Didn't you notice how they
looked around?"


"Yes."


$50 did l. If we should tell father what
we think, he would only laugh at us, and tell
US we were perfect scarecrows."


But we can watch EN-"


Yes, we will watch EN-, but do not let
them know it,"


The boys held some further consultation,
and then going to the dog house, they set the
small door back, so that the hounds might
spring out ii they were wanted. If they desi
red to speak to their father about their suspi
cions, they had no chance, for the strangers
sat close by him all the evening.


At length, however, the old man signi6ed
his intention of retiring, and arose to 60 out of
doors, to see the state of affairs without. The
three followed him but did not take their wea-
pons. The old lady was asleep in her chair


Now" whispered Philip, let's take two
of father S 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 posi-
bic 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 to the room 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 man 5
sleeping room, and the other the room in which
the 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
scafold, and on it, close by, the boys bed
There was no partition at the edge of the scaf-
folding, but it was all open to the room below.


Spare bedding was placed upon the floor of
the kitchen for the three travellers, and after
everything had been arranged for their COM
fort, the boys went up to their bed, and the
al m his iitfla roo,,