The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-25
A LEAK IN THE LEWE.
With His Own Body Pete, = Little
Negro Boy, Stopped the
Crevieo.
Unconscious Of the Heroism Of His
Deed He Blocked tho
Torrent
Lives Of Many People-A stery
Of Flood.l

u Saved Aafso Toms 1lantationa and the
Lives Of Many People-A stery
Of Elood.l
For days the river had bean rising. The
levsss above wore gone for miles and miles,
and tbs mad waters had swept over the
banks. carrying fortunes and even livss be-
fore chem. On one Of the big plantations
opposite 6hreysport every effort was being
made to Withstand the flood. Hands were
collected from cvsry cabin and recruited
from all tho adjoining places to strengthen
the water-soaksd levees, which shook on the
pressure Of = man's foot.
It was almost dusk, but the men who had
not rested for days worked with the strength
of fresh vigor as the voice of Tom Aiken,
the planter, directed them and ohsered them
ON to the task which seemed 90 hopeless a.
the water crept steadily and steadily higher.
But for the fact that every one wal busy
with his work. . little negro boy, who sud
denly dropped his spade and stole away be-
twixt the wheels Of the big ssnd-wagon,
might have been seen ~ he sourrisd way
around the curve in the embankment.
He ran quickly along for full q quarter Of
q mile without looking back, down the mar
row, slippery road that was left between the
cotton rows and the levss. The boy slack
ened his pace when he became convinced
that no one was in pursuit of him, and a.
he did SO he heard the loud, CHEEKY voice of
Tom Aiken bacH at the break: "All work
together, boysr"
"Huhl All work ~together.' the boy said.
tSVnuesp lint n hnk H. ln.~ ---.- -.
tired or workin' togeddsr. Iso Rwins to
sleep, is. I an shot my eyes fur two
whole days an nights. an I gwins round
the pint to Aun' why's an go to Sleep"
In his eagerness to reach the coveted goal
the little negro auiokened his pace again.
1t was now almost dark, but his eyes had
grown accustomed to the gloom. He could
see the curving line of the lsvee, which
seemed to tremble with a ~premonition Of its
own i~nadequacy; he could see all the water
pools in the road. His little legs had meas
ured perhaps a mile moro when the ominous
roar of the river made him stop ana peer
over the leveel at the rushing waters.
As he scrambled mp the slippery bank a
cled of loosened earth fell heavily into the
left q little stream of muddy water trickled.
The boy caught his breath quickly when
the water run over his hand.
"LordyH' he exclaimed. "Dere's gwino
to be a break right here. Lordy! Lordy!
what ] gwine do?"
He STOPPED to reconsider. There was
sill another mile before he could reach tho
Point, and he knew there were only q few
old women in the cabins there, and he could
get no help from that source. II was moro
than a mile back to where the men were
working, and he was afraid to show himself
fbeyA after having rnn QwQv RoQiHan fhara
was not q moment to lose; what was to be
dcne must be dom At once. The boy knew
that q great responsibility rested upon him.
III the little opening were not stopped i'm
mediately it was only a question of = few
moments before the whole levec would be
swept away.
He stood up and looked about him.
There was 40 one in sight. He thought he
might find a bag OF sand dropped by a
passing wagon, but there was none With
sudden purpose hs turned and sat down
over the little crevice through which the
water came. The soft earth yielded to his
weight, and with his hands and feet he
pressed it about him, patting it to make it
firm.
The difficulty had been solved withou this
volition almost. It was only after il was
done that he thought of the Consequences.
He calculated in his unressoning way that
1t was eight o'clock. How long would he
have to remain there? For aught he knew
till morning. He began to suffer by and
by from his oramped position, but he dared
not move even the least bit lest the crevasse
would open again.
He could not tell how time passed. Every
minute seemed an hour. He could not hear
tie shouts of the men below. There was
only now and then the boot Of an owl ris-
ing above the roar of the water, or the
mad current. He wished he had not run
AWAY from his work.
He began to get drowsy; his limbs were
almost numb. He wondered what would
become of him if he should go to sleep. II
the waters should raise up over the levee and
drown him and ruin the cotton, would it
make any difference then that he had tried
to save it? Ho WAS inadequate to the prob
lem, the like Of which has puzzled gravsr
heads than his. The hooting Of the owl
grew less and less frequent, the swishing of
the waters fainter and fainter. the pain in
his back easier.
He must have slept some time. Suddenly
he WAS awakened by the gallop of 4 horse
on this road below. He was too weak to
move. His voice was almost gone but as
the horse and rider approached he cried
out with all the strength he conld summon
'Marse Tom"
Mr.. Aiken drew rein quickly and turned
his big lateln in the direction Of the voice.
"Who is 1t and where are your" he asked,
dismountinR.
'lhS me, DohS, answered Inc BOY.
"What the mischief are you doing here,
Pste?' inquired Aiken. peerinR into the
boys beerimsd face. why, you are almost
buried silver
81 rune away from back yonder.' the
boy answered. II seed the levee a breakin'
here. SO | stopped"
"Why, bleha tho boy said Aiken, lyon
must be nearly dead. What is to be done?
Gan you stand it till / ride back and get
help to fill the break9 1t will open as soon
Us you move"
"Yessir; but hurry, boss,'' answered the
boy.
As Aiken turned to romount he heard the
found of boat wheels around the curve and
the whistle sounded out hoarsely.
by Georaer" exclaimed Aiken, ''there's
a boat, and three more inches of water will
top the levee here and then all is lost"
In 4 few moments the boat rounded the
curve and the big lights shone out across
the water.
'The Matsden," Aiken said. as. he saw
the two smoke stacks, with Morton at the
wheel; | shall have to fight for it,"
So saying, be picked up his gun from
where no had dropped it when he dis
mounted, and strobe ON a few PAGES up
stream to meet the boat.
steer for the other side" he called out
when the boat was within hailing distance.