The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-31
SAVING THE LEVEE.

@Ho iONcce dooFc we're kOno Tor mics
and miles, and the mad waters had
swept over the banks. carrying for
tunes and even lives before them.
On one OF the big plantations oppo-
site Shreveport every effort was being
made to withstand the food. Hands
were collected from every cabin and
recruited from all the adjoining places
to strengthen the water-soaked lcvees.
which shook on the pressure OF a
mans foot
IL was almost dusk, but the men
who had not rested for days worked
with the strength OF fresh yigor as the
voice OF Tom Aiken. the planter, di-
rected them and cheered them on 10
the task which seemed so hopeless rs
the water crept steadily and steadily
higher But for the fact that every
one was busy with lis work, little
negro boy who suddenly dropped his
spade and stole away betwixt the
wheels OF a big sand wagon. might
have been seen as he scurried away
around the curve in the embankmcnt
He ran quickly along for full
back, down the narrow. slippery road
that was left between the cotton rows
and the levee The boy slackened
his pace when he became convinced
that no one was in pursuit OF him. and
as he did so he heard the loud CHEEKY
voice OF Tom Aiken back at the break;
"All work together boys"
Huh! All work together. " the boy
said. "Yessir but you bet dis here
niger done tired er workin' togedder
Ise gwine TO sleep. | is. / an shet
my eyes for two whole days an nights.
an gwine round the pint 20 Aun'
Why's an go to sleep.
In his cagerness TO reach the COW
eted goal the little negro quickened
his pace again. II was now almost
dark. but his eyes had grown accus-
toned 10 the gloom. He could see tho
curving line OF the levoe which seem
cd 10 tremble with a premonition OF
it's own inadequacy; he could see all
the waterpools in the road. His little
logs had measured perhaps a mile
more when the ominous roar OF the
river made him stop and peer over
the levee at the rushing waters.
As no scrambled up the slippery
bank n clod Of loosened earth fell heav-
lily into the road below, and through
the orifce which IL left little stream
OF muddy water trickled. The boy
caught his breath quickly when the
water ran over his hand.
.I,ordyi" no exclaimed. ''Doro's
pwlne 20 be break right here.
Lordy! Lordyl what gwine dol"
lie stopped 20 consider. There was
still another mile before he could
reach the point and he knew there
we're only few old women in the cab
ms there. and he could get no help
from that source. II was more than a
mile back to whore the men were
working. and no was afraid To show
himself there after having run away.
Resides there was not a moment to
lose: what was 20 be doneP The boy
knew that a great responsibility rested
upon him. II the li,tle opening were
not stopped Immediately IL was only a
question OF few moments before the
levee would be swept away.
He stood up and looked about him
There was no one In sight He
Thought he might find bag OF sand
dropped by passing wagon, but
there was none. with sudden pur-
nose he turned and sat down over the
little crevico through which the water
came The soft earth yielded 10 his
weight and with his hands and feet
he pressed IL about him, patting IL 10
make II firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his volition almost ID was after
Il was done that he thought OF the
consequences. He calculated In his
unreaeoning way that II was o'clock.
How long would no have 10 remain
thorop For aught no know. till morn
ING. Ho began 10 suffer by and by
from his cramped position. but he
dared not move even tho least bit lest
the crevnsso would open again.
He began 10 get drowsy; his limbs
wore almost numb. Ho wondered
what would become OF him II he should
ro 10 sleep. II the waters should rise
IN ovor tho lcvee and drown him and
min tho cotton. would Il make any
difference then that ho had tried 10
nve itp He was inadequate 10 the
nrol,lcm. the like OF which has puz-
ylcd qravcr heads than his. The
hooting OF the owl grew less and less
f..oueat. the swishinC OF the waters