The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-12-06

/ the roar or the water or the SWISH as
n clod Of earth was sucked into 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 so to sleep. II the waters
should rise up over the levee and
drown him and ruin the cotton, would
It make any difference then that he
had tried to save IT, He was made
quate to the problem, the like Of which
has puzzled grayer heads than his. The
hooting Of the owl grew less aud less
frequent, the swlshing of the waters
fainter and fainter, the pain in his
back easier.
He must have slept some time Sud
denly he was awakened by the gal
Top Of horse on the 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 could summon,
'Marse Tomw
Mr.. Aiken drew rein quickly and
turned his big lantern In the direction
of the voice.
"Who is It, and where are you?" he
asked, dismounting.
tits me. boss" answered the boy.
"What the mischief are you doing
here, Peter inquired Aiken, peering
into the boys begrimed face. "Why,
you are almost buried alivew
II ruined AWAY from back yonder,"
the boy answered. Il seed the levee
er breakin' here, so 1 stopped"
why bless the boyp said Aiken.
"YOu must be nearly dead. What is
to be done? Can you stand it till
ride back and get help to fill the
break? 1t will open as soon as you
move"
eyes, sir; but hurry back, boss,'
answered the boy.
AS Aiken turned to remount he
heard the sound of boat wheels
around the curve and the whistle
sounded out hOarsely.
by GeorgeY exclaimed Aiken.
There's a boat, and three more
inches Of water will toy the levee here
and then all is lost"
In a few moments the boat rounded
the curve and the big lights shone out
across the waters.
"The Marsden," Aiken said, as he
saw the two smokestacks, with Nor.
ton at the wheel. 1 shall have to fight
for it."
So saying he picked up his gun from
where he had dropped it when he dis
mounted and strobe on a few PAGES
up stream to meet the boat.
steer for the other sidew he called
out when the boat was in hailing dis
lance.
I'm running this machine" respond
ed the coarse voice Of Morton, "and
guess the river is freew
Aiken could see the little tongues
Of water as they overlapped the banE
above. If the boat did not turn, she
would send the water over the levet
lower down where the boy was, an(
he and the whole embankment would
be sucked in. There was no time t.
be lost.
, Swinging the lantern above his heaC
so that Morton might see him, h,
flung his rifle to his shoulder ant
called back, Come another foot near
er to this shore and you are a deat
man.
! Morton knew what manner of mai
? he had to deal with. The wheel re
versed, the boat tackled and grace
( the opposite shore, which was al
: ready submerged
g "All right, now, Pete" said Alike
f gently, patting the boys muddy pate
t IN go on and be back in a few me
r ments"
When they came and put sand bag
e in the hole Pete had been GOVERN,
e the little fellow was too weak t
speak or to stand, and Mr. Alike
e took him up In his arms and hin
d self carried him to the house.
e And now Pete does nothing but rid
} on the back seat of the carriage
D open gates for the driver or to carr
n parcels when Tom Aiken's pretty wi
e goes to Shreveport shopping. For h
W boss is grateful to the little hel
Y. who saved the plantatlon.-Pal
10 Times.
y Monkey Meat as Delicacy.
mo, l have never eaten monkey
u, said the woman, "but a great mar