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flood that was to come。 The girders of the three centre piers …
those that stood on the cribs …were all but in position。 They
needed just as many rivets as could be driven into them； for the
flood would assuredly wash out their supports； and the ironwork
would settle down on the caps of stone if they were not blocked
at the ends。 A hundred crowbars strained at the sleepers of the
temporary line that fed the unfinished piers。 It was heaved up
in lengths； loaded into trucks； and backed up the bank beyond
flood…level by the groaning locomotives。 The tool…sheds on the
sands melted away before the attack of shouting armies； and with
them went the stacked ranks of Government stores； iron…hound
boxes of rivets； pliers； cutters； duplicate parts of the
riveting…machines； spare pumps and chains。 The big crane would
be the last to be shifted； for she was hoisting all the heavy
stuff up to the main structure of the bridge。 The concrete
blocks on the fleet of stone…boats were dropped overside； where
there was any depth of water； to guard the piers； and the empty
boats themselves were poled under the bridge down…stream。 It
was here that Peroo's pipe shrilled loudest； for the first stroke
of the big gong had brought the dinghy back at racing speed； and
Peroo and his people were stripped to the waist； working for the
honour and credit which are better than life。
〃I knew she would speak；〃 he cried。 〃I knew； but the telegraph
gives us good warning。 O sons of unthinkable begetting …
children of unspeakable shame … are we here for the look of the
thing？〃 It was two feet of wire…rope frayed at the ends； and it
did wonders as Peroo leaped from gunnel to gunnel； shouting the
language of the sea。
Findlayson was more troubled for the stoneboats than anything
else。 McCartney； with his gangs； was blocking up the ends of the
three doubtful spans。 but boats adrift； if the flood chanced to
be a high one； might endanger the girders； and there was a very
fleet in the shrunken channel。
〃Get them behind the swell of the guardtower；〃 he shouted down to
Peroo。 〃It will be dead…water there。 Get them below the bridge。〃
〃Accha！ ＇Very good。＇ I know； we are mooring them with wire…rope；〃
was the answer。 〃Heh！ Listen to the Chota Sahib。 He is working hard。〃
From across the river came an almost continuous whistling of
locomotives； backed by the rumble of stone。 Hitchcock at the
last minute was spending a few hundred more trucks of Tarakee
stone in reinforcing his spurs and embankments。
〃The bridge challenges Mother Gunga；〃 said Peroo； with a laugh。
〃But when she talks I know whose voice will be the loudest。〃
For hours the naked men worked； screaming and shouting under the
lights。 It was a hot； moonless night； the end of it was darkened
by clouds and a sudden squall that made Findlayson very grave。
〃She moves！〃 said Peroo； just before the dawn。 〃Mother Gunga is
awake！ Hear！〃 He dipped his hand over the side of a boat and the
current mumbled on it。 A little wave hit the side of a pier
with a crisp slap。
〃Six hours before her time；〃 said Findlayson； mopping his
forehead savagely。
〃Now we can't depend on anything。 We'd better clear all hands
out of the riverbed。〃
Again the big gong beat； and a second time there was the rushing
of naked feet on earth and ringing iron； the clatter of tools
ceased。 In the silence； men heard the dry yawn of water crawling
over thirsty sand。
Foreman after foreman shouted to Findlayson； who had posted
himself by the guard…tower； that his section of the river…bed had
been cleaned out； and when the last voice dropped Findlayson
hurried over the bridge till the iron plating of the permanent
way gave place to the temporary plank…walk over the three centre
piers； and there he met Hitchcock。
〃'All clear your side？〃 said Findlayson。 The whisper rang in the
box of lattice work。
〃Yes； and the east channel's filling now。 We're utterly out of
our reckoning。 When is this thing down on us？〃
〃There's no saying。 She's filling as fast as she can。 Look！〃
Findlayson pointed to the planks below his feet； where the sand；
burned and defiled by months of work； was beginning to whisper
and fizz。
〃What orders？〃 said Hitchcock。
〃Call the roll … count stores sit on your hunkers … and pray for
the bridge。 That's all I can think of Good night。 Don't risk
your life trying to fish out anything that may go downstream。〃
〃Oh； I'll be as prudent as you are！ 'Night。 Heavens； how she's
filling！ Here's the rain in earnest。〃
Findlayson picked his way back to his bank； sweeping the last of
McCartney's riveters before him。 The gangs had spread themselves
along the embankments； regardless of the cold rain of the dawn；
and there they waited for the flood。 Only Peroo kept his men
together behind the swell of the guard…tower； where the stone…boats
lay tied fore and aft with hawsers； wire…rope； and chains。
A shrill wail ran along the line； growing to a yell； half fear
and half wonder： the face of the river whitened from bank to hank
between the stone facings； and the far…away spurs went out in
spouts of foam。 Mother Gunga had come bank…high in haste； and a
wall of chocolate…coloured water was her messenger。 There was a
shriek above the roar of the water； the complaint of the spans
coming down on their blocks as the cribs were whirled out from
under their bellies。 The stone…boats groaned and ground each
other in the eddy that swung round the abutment； and their clumsy
masts rose higher and higher against the dim sky…line。
〃Before she was shut between these walls we knew what she would
do。 Now she is thus cramped God only knows what she will do！〃
said Peroo； watching the furious turmoil round the guard…tower。
〃Ohe'！ Fight； then！ Fight hard； for it is thus that a woman wears
herself out。〃
But Mother Gunga would not fight as Peroo desired。 After the
first down…stream plunge there came no more walls of water； but
the river lifted herself bodily； as a snake when she drinks in
midsummer； plucking and fingering along the revetments； and
banking up behind the piers till even Findlayson began to
recalculate the strength of his work。
When day came the village gasped。 〃Only last night；〃 men said；
turning to each other； 〃it was as a town in the river…bed！ Look now！〃
And they looked and wondered afresh at the deep water； the
racing water that licked the throat of the piers。 The farther
bank was veiled by rain； into which the bridge ran out and
vanished； the spurs up…stream were marked by no more than eddies
and spoutings； and down…stream the pent river； once freed of her
guide…lines； had spread like a sea to the horizon。 Then hurried
by； rolling in the water； dead men and oxen together； with here
and there a patch of thatched roof that melted when it touched a
pier。
〃Big flood；〃 said Peroo； and Findlayson nodded。 It w