The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-07-11
A Break In
the L-eVee.
} THE DESPERATE REMEDY
} BY WHICH IT WAS STOPPED.

| sWePt over TIC Unlike, carrying lot
tunes and even lives before them. On
one of the big plantations opposite
Shreveport every effort was being made
to Withstand the food. Hands were col
lscted from every cabin and recruited
from all the adjoining places to
strengthen the water soaked levees,
foot.
1t 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. direct
ed them and cheersd them on to the
task which seemed SO hopeless as the
water crept steadily and steadily high
or. But for the fact that every one was
busy with his work, little negro boy,
who suddenly dropped his spade and
stole away between the wheels of the
big sand wagon, might have been seen
as he scurried away around the curve
in the embankment.
He ran quickly along for full a quar-
ter Of mile without looking 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 to-
gether, boysr'
Huh? All work together" the boy
said. "Yesslr, but you bet dis here mig
ger done tired er workin togedder. Pze
gwine to sleep, Is. l ain shet my eyes
fur two whole days an nights, an l
gwine round the pint to Aunt Why's
an go to Sleep"
In his eagerness to reach the coveted
goal the little negro quickened 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 levee, which seemed to tremble
with a premonition of its own made
quacy. He could see all the water pools
In the road. His little legs had meas
ured perhaps mile more when the ON
nous roar of the river made him stop
and peer over the levee at the rushing
waters.
AS he scrambled up the slippery bank
a clod Of loosened earth fell heavily In
to the road below. and through the orr
fee which 1t left little stream of mud
dy water trickled. The boy caught his
breath quickly when the water ran
over his hand.
"Lordy" he exclaimed. "Dere's gwine
to be break right here Lordyl Lordy!
What gwine doT'
He stopped to reconsider. There was
still another mile before he could reach
the point, and he knew there were only
a few old women In the cabins there,
and he could get no help from that
source. 1t was more than a mile back
to where the men were working, and he
was afraid to show himself there after
having run away. Besides there was
not moment to lose. What was to be
done must be done at once. The boy
knew that great responsibility rested
upon him. II. the little opening were
not stopped Immediately II was only
question Of few moments before the
whole 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 purpose he 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 II about him,
patting II to make II firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his volition almost. 1t was only
after II was done that be 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
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 II he should go to
sleep. If the waters should rise up
over the levee and drown him and ruin
the cotton. would It make any differ
ence then that he had tried to save 1T
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 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
Toy,,vS