The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-07-02
A Break In
the LeVee.
THE DESPERATE REMEDY
BY WHICH 1T WAS STOPPED

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 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
err 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 quar-
ter of a mile without looking back
..dsYn the narrow, slippery road that
WIS ItlI OCLMecu JlAC COlCOA IONo anu
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, boys!'
Huh? All work together" the boy
said. "Yessir, but you bet dis here mig
ger done tired er workin togedder. PZe
gwine to sleep, is. 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
flee which it left little stream of mud
dy water trickled. The boy caught his
breath quickly when the water ran
over his hand.
"LordyY' he exclaimed. "Dere's gwine
to be break right here. Lordy! Lordy!
What | gwine do?'
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 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 a great responsibility rested
upon him. If the little opening were
not stopped Immediately it was only
question Of a few moments before the
whole leyee 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
a 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
ho n ho OBJ u
patting it to make it firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his volition almost 1t was only
after it was done that he thought of
the consequences. He calculated in his
unreasoning way that it was s 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 q
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 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&
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.
'Tt's 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 aliver'
81 ruined away from back yonder,"
the boy answered. 81 seed the levee er
breakin here, so l stopped"
"Why, bless the boy" said Aiken.
"You must be nearly dead. What Is to
be done? Can you stand 1t 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 Georgew exclaimed Aiken.
"There's boat, and three more inches
of water will top the levee here and
then all Is lost
In few moments the boat rounded
the curve and the big lights shone out