Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-02-01

who had common rights over these vast
expenses. they were all in a.. Mil
lions Of sea fowl lived and bred in
these recesses. Cattle. herds Of geese
and marsh ponies grazed on the coarse
grass. Turf TO warm themselves dur
ing the bitter winter, and reeds 20
thatch their cots: all these were the
benefits the marshmen received from
the lands. Aud all these would be lost
~ draining and inclosure.
What wonder they were furious.
Yet what could they dO2
For many months hundreds of men
bad been at work. The Suffer. through
which hitherto the salt tides had made
their way up into the marshes, had
been confined within its banks 10y huge
dykes. Drains and aoodgates had been
constructed. The marshes were dry
ing rapidly. and al was ready for par
ceiling ont the land with fences and
turning IL over 10 the plow and bar
row.
Old Pritchett. Selina's father. was
one Of the best known "slodgers." All
his life he had shot and trapped over
the marshes, and his daughter inner
tied his intense love for these vast ex-
panses Of breezy fats.
Selma was an exceptionally hand
some girl. and naturally had many ad-
mirers. But Joe Reave and Nane Mer-
lit were generally allowed 10 be the
only two who had any chance.
Nane Merritt. il might have been sup
posed. would have been more likely TO
win her. He was the son Of small
farmer in the neighborhood. and his
expectations were far better than
Reave's. who was but marshman like
Seiina's father. although better ecu
Gated than the majority Of his class.
But, as We have seen, there was no
doubt in the world which Selma pre-
ferred. This Merritt knew, and had
sworn 10 get even with Reave.
Black night in mid-Dece mber. The
soft marsh lands. soft in deep, sticky
mud, and the Suffer swollen with heavy
rains. brimming 10 the top of the new
EN- ba ukments, and striving with fury
against its unaccustOmed bonds II
had been a wet autumn, which had
eliminated in a three days dowEpour,
giving the river and the great new
| drains much ado 10 carry down into
| the sea the overflow from the higher
| grounas inland. This night strong
| northeaster had arisen and torn away
the canopy OF cloud, allowing the win
ter stars TO sparkle in the black waters
| beneath.
On the embankment. just where the
| Suffer curves into West Marsh. stood
a mana tall. powerful figure. He car
ried wide-bladed pickax and heavy
shovel.
Laying these down, he walked to the
top OF the dyke and a few yards along
IL. testing the ground with his iron
shod heel The water was within six
inches Of the top Of the bank. and the
current, usually so slack and lazy,
swinging along with terrific force and
power.
"This'll do" he muttered 20 himself
He returned 10 where his tools lay,
picked them up. and began a savage
onslaught on the soaking soil. Begin
| ming about four feet below the top of
The dyke, at point just beyond the
elbow OF the curve. he soon had cut a
| gaping hole in the wide, new rampant.
The whole force of the current here
imp.inged on the dyke and he reck-
cned that, once capped the river would
do the rest. and. bursting through
speedily tear huge rent and spread
once more across the marshes.
Twenty minutes passed. He was
more than half way through, and the
river still rising.
| Suddenly he stopped. pickax in han
and listened hard. Bah, IL was but
the wind crying through the upper air
He went on digging. his maftock thud
ding into the soaking soil. The sound
| sga.n--men's voices. Ysss and ap'
y n~cx >Nf.~ S~-~r <h> s~<>st A&xwo ~1~.s