The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-03-06
So sure as my names Vane Merritt, I'll
be even with YOU"


which for centuries the sea had in
vaded and swamped in every winter |
storm. Rich in themselves, these lands !
were rendered valueless by the inroads |
of salt water.
Yet, to the marsh men, or "slodgers,"
who had common rights over these vast
expanses, they were all in all. 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 to
thatch their cots; all these were the
benefits the marshmen received from
the lands. And all these 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 Sutter, through
whichahitherto the salt tides had made
their way up into the marshes, had
been confined within its banks by huge
dykes. Drains and foodgates had been
constructed. The marshes were dry
ing rapidly, and all was ready for par
celng 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 inher-
tied his intense love for these vast ex-
panses of breezy flats.
Selma was an exceptionally hand
some girl, and naturally had many ad-
mirers. But Joe Reave and Vane Mer-
lit were generally allowed to be the
| only two who had any chance.
Vane Merritt, it might have been sup
| posed, would have been more likely to
win her. He was the son of a small
farmer in the neighborhood, ana his
expectations were far better than
| Reave's, who wss 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-
| ferred. This Merritt knew, and had
sworn to get even with Reave.
|
| soft marsh lands, soft in deep, sticky
| mud. and the Sutter swollen with heavy
rains, brimming to the top of the new
embankments, and striving with fury
| against its unaccustomed bonds. 1t
had been a wet autumn, which had
eliminated in three days downpour.
giving the river and the great new
|
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
Sutter curves into West Marsh, stood
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 few yards along
it, 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 to himself
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 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
implinged on the dyke and he reck
oned that, once capped the river Woult
do the rest, and, bursting through
speedily tear a huge rent and spreat
l once more across the marshes.
Twenty minutes passed. He wa
more than half way through, and tn
river still rising.
Suddenly he stopped, pickax in hand
and listened hard. Bah, it was bu
the wind crying through the upper all
j He went on digging. his mattock thud
ding into the soaking soil. The SCUM
o again-men's voices. Yes, and aF
preaching from the west down alon
s the dyke. But nothing was visible.
a "They won't see me, whoever the
e be-" he said to himself. "The curve
/, the bank hides me, so I'll see ther
first" And again he hacked at tn
!. rapidly thinning bank.
e The voices ceased, but instead ther
came a sound of hurrying feet. 10
v worked with desperate energy. Fig
r ures came in sight running toward
!. him.
e Here he is,'' shouted some one. Jo
ground his teeth, as he recognize
k Meritt's voice, but never an inch dl
/. he bulge. The marshman's blood we
O up. Thud, thud, the water was begil
# ming to trickle through.
lie They were upon him, three deput
Ie sheriffs and Merritt, Merritt little
advance of the others.
n "Ah. you sneaking spy" roared II
~ big marshman, as the other, with stie
:" appraised, rushed upon him.
le With hail-iike sweep of his ma
I. ST tclr ~