WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH BIRDS 



The water of the big ditch was running like a mill-race, and 

 the flood covered all the fields and swamp save a few of the 

 highest places. It was above the fences, thick with floating logs 

 and debris. The bridge to the private ditch crossing Mr. Hale's 

 land was anchored out in the swamp against some tree-trunks. 

 We could not go on, and we could not turn around. We unhitched 

 the horse, tied him to the bridge, backed the carriage off into the 

 road, and when we thought we were far enough to miss the em- 

 bankment, tried to turn it. We had not gone so far as we 

 thought, and ran it down a steep place until the water filled half 

 the bed and reached my best camera. 



With all our might we pulled and pulled and could not budge 

 it. Then we corralled some floating rails, laid them out to the run- 

 ning gear, and Molly-cotton walked them and set the camera 

 arid my waders upon the seat. Then we brought down the horse, 

 tied the lines to the tugs and to the carriage, held up the shafts, 

 and with Patience's help got the carriage into the road, where we 

 harnessed and drove back. 



On the road leading east from town we held a council of war 

 and decided to drive over to the levee and prospect from there. 

 We turned south at the first crossing, but when we came to the 

 gate we expected to enter the water was a foot deep. That portion 

 of the meadow lying along the ditch was all under water, but 

 there was no current. I was doubtful about it, but Molly-cotton 

 proposed to put on my waders and prospect. It was meadow that 

 cattle had grazed over, I had driven over it all the spring, and she 

 could feel her way before her, so I consented. She put on the 

 waders, pinned up her skirts, took a water tripod and started. 

 She wore a flaming red waist, and in the midst of that pool I 

 saw she was attracting the attention of a cow of the Hale herd. 

 I didn't know whether the cow would enter the water or not, 

 but I did know Molly-cotton couldn't hurry on that soggy 



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