The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-09-12

out his volition almost. 1t was only
after it was done that he thought of
the consequences. He calculated in his
unreasoning way that 1t was o'clock.
How long would he have to remain
there? For aught he knew till morn
ing. He began to suffer by and by
from his cramped position. but he dar-
ed not move even the least bit lest the
crevice should open again.
He could not tell how time passed.
Every minute seemed an hour. He
could not hear the shouts of the men
below. There was only now and then
the boot of an owl rising above the
roar of the water or the swish as O
clod of earth was sucked into the mai
current. He wished he had not run
away from his work.
He began to get drowsy; his limbs
were almost rumb. He wondered what
would become of him If he should go to
sleep. If the waters should rise up
over the levee and drown him and ruin
the cotton. would 1t make any differ
ence then that he had tried to save I'll
He was inadequate to the problem,
the like of which has puzzled graver
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. Sud
denly he was awakened by the gallop
of a horse on the road below. He was
too weak to move. His voice was al
most 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, Pete?' inquired Aiken, peering
into the boys begrimed face. "Why.
you are almost buried alivey'
81 ruined away from back yonder,
the boy answered. 81 seed the levee er
breakin here, so stopped"
"Why, bless the boy" said Aiken.
''You must be nearly dead. What is to
be done? Can you stand it till l ride
back and get help to fill the break? 1t
will open as soon as you move"
"Yessir; but hurry, 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 boat, and three more inches
of water will top 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 water.
'"The Marsden," Aiken said, as he
saw the two smokestacks, with Nor
ton at the wheel. 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 few PAGES up
stream to meet the boat.
''Steer for the other sidev' he called
out when the boat was in hailing dis
lance.
I'm running this machine" respond
ed the coarse voice Of Morton, land
guess the river is freew
Aiken could see the little tongues of
water as they overlapped the bank
above. If the boat did not turn, she
would send the water over the levee
lower down where the boy was, and he
and the whole embankment would be
sucked in. There was no time to be
lost
Swinging the lantern above his head
SO that Morton might see him, he flung
his rifle to his shoulder and called back,
"Come another foot nearer to this
shore and you are a dead manv'
Morton knew what manner of man he
had to deal with. The wheel reversed,
the boat tackled and grazed the opposite
shore, which was already submerged.
'All right now, Pete" said Aiken
gently, patting the boys muddy pate.
'Pll go on and be back in a few mo-
ments."
When they came by and put sand
bags in the hole Pete had been cover
ing, the little fellow was too weak to
speak or to stand. and Mr.. Aiken took
him up in his arms and himself car
ried him to the house.
And now Pete does nothing but ride
on the back seat of the carriage to open
gates for the driver or to carry parcels
when Tom Aiken's pretty wife goes to
Shreveport shopping, for his boss" Is
grateful to the little hero who saved
the plantation.