Year: 1864

of fathers rifles up to our bed-we may
want them. We are as good as men with
the rife


Daniel sprang to obey, and as quickly as
possible the boys slipped two rifles from
their closets behind the great stove chimney,
and then hastened back and emptied the
priming from the strangers rifles and when
their father and the strangers returned, 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
NJ AsIeeping room, and the other in which
the present company sat. Overhead there
was sort Of scaffolding, reaching only half
way over the room below it, and in the op.
posite 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 bey's bed. There was no parti-
ton at the edge of the scafold, 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 com
fort, 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 avoid it, Half an hour
had passed away, and they could hear their
father snore. Then they neard movement
from those below. Philip crawled silently
to where he could peep down through, and
saw one Of the men open his pack, from
which he took several pieces Of meat, by the
rays of the moon, and moving toward the
window, he showed the sash back and threw
the pieces of flesh to the dogs Then he
went back to his bed and laid down.


At first the boy thought this might be
thrown to the dogs to distract their attten-
tion but when the man laid down. the idea
of poison flashed through Philips mind. He
whispered his thoughts to his brother The
first impulse of little Daniel, as he heard
that his poor dogs were to be poisoned, was
to cry out, but sudden pressure from the
hand Of his brother kept him silent


At the end of the boys bed was a dark
Window, small square door, and it was di-
rectly over the dogs house. Philip resolved
to go down and save the dogs. The under
taking was dangerous one: for the least
noise would arouse the villains, and might
prove fatal. But Philip Slater found him
self strong in heart, and he determined upon
the trial. His fathers life might be in his
hands This thought was a tower ofstrength
IN isseir-


Philip opened the window without NOV
ing from his bed, and it swung on its hinges
without noise Then he threw off the sheet
and tied the corner to the staple by which
the window was hooked. The sheet was
A. IL IL G, liz
the brave boy let himself out upon it. He
enjoned his brother not to move, and then
he slid noslessy down The hounds had
Just found the meat, but they drew back at
their young masters beck, and Philip gath
cred the flesh all up. He easily quieted the
faithful brutes, and then tied the meat in a
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, and
with beating heart the boy thanked God
He had performed an act, simple as it may
appear, at which many stout heart would
have quailed The dogs growled as they
went back into their kennel, and if the
strangers heard them, they thought 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 been near
ly midnight when they moved again, and the
lad Philip saw the rays Of a candle flash up
through the cracks of the floor on which
L. L. II bo,. = ~
crack where he could peep down, but at that
moment he heard man upon the ladder
He uttered quick whisper to his brother,
and they lay perfectly still The fellow
seemed to be perfectly satisfied that they
were asleep, for he soon returned to the
ground foor and then Philip crept to the
crack He saw the men take knives, and he
heard them whispering:


'We'll kill the old man and woman, first
said one of them, and then We'll hunt the
money If those little brats up their (pOint-
ing to the scafold) wake up we can easily
take care of them


But we must kill them all, said another
of the Williams.


Yes returned the speaker, but the old
ones first.


Philips heart beat with horror.


Down the ladder outside! quickP he
whispeaed to his brother. Down and start
up the dogs Run for the front door and
throw it open-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
gop


Daniel quickly crawled out through the
little window, and Philip siezed rife and
crept to the head of the scaffold. Two Of the
Williams were just approaching the door of
his fathers ROOM They had set the candle
down on the floor, so that its light would fall
into the bedroom as the door was opened
Philip drew the hammer of his rifle back and
rested the muzzle upon the edge Of the board.
One of the men bad his hand upon the latch
The boy here uttered single word of heart
felt prayer, and then he pulled the trigger.
The william whose hand was on the latch ut
tered sharp quick cry, and then fell upon
the floor The bullet had passed through
his brain.


For an instant the two remaining Williams
were confounded, but they quickly compre-
hended the nature and position of their enc