The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-08
A Break In
the LeVee.
THE DESPERATE REMEDY
J BY WHICH 1T WAS STOPPED.


6.e..e.o.o.o.1o.U~1~1~1~o~e
For days the river had been rising.
The levees above were gone for miles
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 opposite
Shreveport every effort was being made
to withstand the flood. Hands were col
lected from every cabin and recruited
from all the adjoining places to
strengthen the water soaked levees,
which shook on the pressure Of a mans
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 cheered them on to the
task which seemed SO hopeless as the
water crept steadily and steadily high
er. But for the fact that every one was
busy with his work, a 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 quar-
ter of a mile without looking back
down the narrow, slippery road that
| was left between the cotton rows and
the levee. The boy siackersd his pace
| when he became convinced that no one
was in pursuit of him, and as he did sc
he heard the loud. CHEEKY voice of Tom
| Aiken back at the break, "All work to
| gether, boys"
"Huh? All work together" the boy
said. "Yessir, but you bet dis here mig
ger done tired er workin togedder. TZe
gwine to sleep. is. ! ain shet my eyes
fur two whole days an nights. an
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 hi:
eyes had grown accustomed to thu
gloom He could see the curving line o.
the levee. which seemed to trembl,
with a premonition of its own made
quacy. He could see all the water pool
in the road. His little legs had meas
ured perhaps n mile more when the ON
inous roar of the river made him stol
and peer over the levee at the rushing
waters.
AS he scrambled up the slippery banl
| ell l.,
to the road below. and through the ori
fee which it left little stream of mud
: dy water trickled. The boy caught hi
breath quickly when the water RAJ
: over his hand.
"Lordyr' he exclaimed. "Dere's gwin
: to be a break right here. Lordy! Lordy
What gwine doT
He stopped to reconsider. There wa
= still another mile before he could reac
3 the point. and he knew there were onl
e q few old women in the cabins there
f and he could get no help from tina
source 1t was more than a mile bac
( to where the men were working. and h
/ was afraid to show himself there afte
e having run away. Besides there wa
Y not moment to lose. What was to b
t done must be done at once. The bo
g knew that great responsibility reste
r upon him. If the little opening wei
: not stopped Immediately it was only
= question of few moments before til
= whole levee would be swept away.
f He stood up and looked about hin
b There was no one in sight He though
4 he might find bag of sand dropped b
passing wagon, but there was non
: With sudden purpose he turned and s;
9 down over the little crevice throug
t which the water came. The soft cart
d yielded to his weight. and with b
a hands and feet he pressed it about hiI
d patting it to make II firm.
a The difficulty had been solved wit
p out his volition almost. Ii was on
after it was done that he thought
the consequences. He calculated in b
y unreasoning way that ii was s o'cloc
d. How long would he have TO rema
A there? For aught he knew till NOR
d., ing. He began TO suffer by and
= from his cramped. position. but he da
=, ed not move even the least bit lest 4
: crevice should open again.
- He could not tell how time passe
: Every minute seemed an hour.
, could not hear the shouts of the M
II below. There was only now and tn
the hoot of an owl rising above t
roar of the water or the swish as
clod of earth was sucked into the m
IS current. He wished he had not r
: away from his work.
& He began to get drowsy; his linn
10 were almost numb. He wondered WI
= would become of him if he should go
J. sleep. If the waters should rise
J. over the levee and drown him and RI
the cotton, would 1t make any diff