Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

woman in mas place; but haint carin much.
Them Children of air sightful. and they need
what can hold EN- down Tant picnic
she's gettin, ettin alone her what has ter be
KEEP IN line.
Jack gave her hand squeeze that spoke volumes.
THE merriment at its height, when Bud
Harkens galoped down the road and drew rein
the Tarbutton cabin Putting his hands together,
he shouted through them in at the open door,
Levee's broke at Eight Mile, en- Their watahs
comm like bazes! and was gone before the panic
stricken merrymakers could question him he
dwellers of the Barraclaw know well the meaning
of that warning. Horses and mules saddled.
wagons geared and women and children ran pellmell
down the road and up the road and along bypaths
like frightened rabbits scurrylpg to cover each IN
tent upon saving their poor and the hve-
stock.
Jack Graham led his mule to stump and beck
oned to Nancy. You'd best come along with me,
cause LENS got his hands NOR full with his ole
woman en- all them kids Their hain't more n time
ter git YOUR clothes and make for Their settlement.
Nancy climbed up behind him, and started for
LENS cabin Beneath the bridge, the bayou ran,
heavy and swollen with the spring rains and as they
came out bv the Tupelo Swamp Jack pointed to
where the smooth brown-red surface of the stagnant
water was broken by thin yellow ribbon the fore
runner of the Mississippi. In the few moments that
they drew rein and watched the swamps fill with
the roar of coming waters. the yellow ribbon became
a swelling stream.
No time to think of clothes; they turned the mule
and headed back to the church. 1t was built upon
the highest ground in miles. and would afford them
shelter where the Indian mounds. crowded with all
manner of beast kind. offered none.
Nancy chung closer to Jack as the path over which
thew had just ridden dry shod began to disappear
beneath the water. 1t gone entirely when they
reached the church Lapping and curling IN the
Young grass, the water dubbed and whispered IN
awful glee. 1t went among the graves, washing to
and fro with clutchng fingers tearing at the poor
wooden headboards and the queer little shelters.
like chicken coops that the folk had built above the
graves of their little children. 1t had touched the
lowest step of the church when Jack helped Nancy
into the doorway then he coaxed the mule to follow
them inside
THE two stood looking out the waste of waters,
which racing in from the swamp in ever
increasing volume. The darkness grew, and far out
in the green reaches came shrill cry, which both
knew, a cry that answered still farther away.
lack took his pistol and felt for his supply of
Cartridges. Again the long, eery panther call,
nearer now, and the edge of the rising moon
showed above the trees they could round black
dot speeding across the open space There were
other dweerS of the swamp that fled before the teeth
of the flood A deers anters showed above the crest
of the waves and far off in the distance they heard
sound that had not been heard in the Barraclaw IN
years,-the howl Of the gray swamp wolf. AS the
night deepened, occasional splash denoted the
track of wild fugitive. In the branches OF the
dead sycamore above them sat great horned owl,
whose queries awoke the moon flooded stiffness at
intervals. They could the great jewels of its
ewes as it slipped cautiously down the limb toward
them
Then came the beat of dugout paddle, coming
from the direction of the Tarbutton cabin. ack
hailed it. and an answering haoo came back, and
presently the dugout was pulled up to the church
steps, 1t the minister. In few words he ex-
planned that Jim Akers feeling himself in way
responsible for his safety had loaned him the only
dugout the family possessed return to the settle
ment a distance of six miles. and from there he
could send back boats and supplies to the people
that were out of reach Of their neighbors. He was
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