The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-02-06

who had common rights over these vast
expanses, they were all in az. Mil
, lions OF sea fowl lived and bred in
these recesses. Cattle, herds Of geese
and marsh ponies grazed on the coarse
grass. Turf 10 warm themselves dur
ing the bitter winter. and reeds to
thatch their cots; all these were the
benefits the marshmen received from
the lands. And all hese would be lost
by draining and inclosure.
What wonder they were furious.
Yet what could they do?
For many months hundreds of men
had been at work. The Suffer, through
which hitherto the salt tides had made
their way up into the marshes, had
been confined within it's banks by huge
dykes. Drains and foodgates had Leen
constructed The marshes were dry
ing rapidly, and all was ready for par
ceiling out the land with fences and
turning it over to the plow and har-
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 flats.
Selma was an exceptionally hand
some girl, and naturally had many adj
mirers. But JoSstssave and Vane Mer-
lit were generally allowed to be the
only two who had any chance.
Nane Merritt, it 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
Reaye's, who was but a marshman like
Selina's father, although better edu-
Gated than the majority Of his class.
But, as we have seen, there was no
doubt in the world which Selma pre-
fyrred. This Merritt knew, and had
sworn to get even with Reave.
Black night in mid-December The
soft marsh lands, soft in deep, sticky
mud, and the Suffer swollen with heavy
rains, brimming 10 the top Of the new
embankments, and striving with fury
against its unaccustomed bonds. 1t
had been a wet autumn. which had
eliminated in a three days downpour,
giving the river and the great new
drains much ado to carry down into
the sea the overflow from the higher
grounds 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 a wide-bladed pickax and heavy
shovel.
Laying these down, he walked to the
top OF the dyke and a few yards along
it. testing the ground with his IRON
he'd heel. The water was within six
inches Of the top Of The bank, and the
current, usually so slack and lazy.
swinging a.oug with terrific force and
power.
"ThiS'll do" he muttered to hims elf.
He returned to where his tools lay,
picked them up, and began savage
onslaught on the soaking soil. Begin
ming about four feet below the top of
the dyke, at a point just beyond the
elbow of the curve. he soon had cut
gaping hole in the wide. new rampant.
The whole force Of the current here
imp,inged onsane dyke and he reck-
cned that, once capped the river would
do he 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, pckaX in hand
and listened hard Bah. Il was but
he wind crying through the upper air.
He went ON digging, his mattock thud-
ding into the soaking soil. The sound
again-men'> voices. Yes, and ap-
preaching from the west down along
the dyke. Bu nothing was visible.
They won't see me. whoever they
be-" he said to himself. "The curve O
the bank hides me, so I'll see them
first" And again he hacked at the
rapidly thinning bank.
Inc voices GtdStd, bul luHltdb luclt
came a sound of hurrying feet. Joe
worked with desperate energy. Fig
ures came in sight running towards
him.
Here he i,.' shouted some one. Joe
ground his teeth, as he recognized
Merits voice. but never an inch did
he bulge. The marshman's blood was
up. Thud, thud the water was begin
ming to trickle through,
They were upon him, three deputy
,heriiIs and Merritt, Merritt "A little in
advance Of The others.
"Ah! you sneaking py," roared the
big marshman, as the other. with stick
appraised, rushed upon him.
With a tlai-.ike sweep Of his mat
took he dashed him aside, stick and
all, sending him rolling over and over
| down the steep dyke side.
The sheriT's men were upon him, but
he sprang aside. One slipped and fell,
but as he fell seized Reaye's leg and
| pulled him down; the others closed,
and in a struggling mass all four went