the bridge-builders-第2章

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agencies　along　Thames　bank。　　The　priest　of　the　Lascars　had

nothing　to　do　with　their　caste；　or　indeed　with　anything　at　all。

He　ate　the　offerings　of　his　church；　and　slept　and　smoked；　and

slept　again；　〃for；〃　said　Peroo；　who　had　haled　him　a　thousand

miles　inland；　〃he　is　a　very　holy　man。　　He　never　cares　what　you

eat　so　long　as　you　do　not　eat　beef；　and　that　is　good；　because　on

land　we　worship　Shiva；　we　Kharvas；　but　at　sea　on　the　Kumpani's

boats　we　attend　strictly　to　the　orders　of　the　Burra　Malum

＇the　first　mate＇；　and　on　this　bridge　we　observe　what　Finlinson

Sahib　says。〃



Finlinson　Sahib　had　that　day　given　orders　to　clear　the

scaffolding　from　the　guard…tower　on　the　right　bank；　and　Peroo

with　his　mates　was　casting　loose　and　lowering　down　the　bamboo

poles　and　planks　as　swiftly　as　ever　they　had　whipped　the　cargo

out　of　a　coaster。



From　his　trolley　he　could　hear　the　whistle　of　the　serang's　silver

pipe　and　the　creek　and　clatter　of　the　pulleys。　　Peroo　was

standing　on　the　top…most　coping　of　the　tower；　clad　in　the　blue

dungaree　of　his　abandoned　service；　and　as　Findlayson　motioned　to

him　to　be　careful；　for　his　was　no　life　to　throw　away；　he　gripped

the　last　pole；　and；　shading　his　eyes　ship…fashion；　answered　with

the　long…drawn　wail　of　the　fo'c'sle　lookout：　　〃Ham　dekhta　hai〃

（〃I　am　looking　out〃）。



Findlayson　laughed　and　then　sighed。　　It　was　years　since　he　had

seen　a　steamer；　and　he　was　sick　for　home。　　As　his　trolley　passed

under　the　tower；　Peroo　descended　by　a　rope；　ape…fashion；　and

cried：　〃It　looks　well　now；　Sahib。　　Our　bridge　is　all　but　done。

What　think　you　Mother　Gunga　will　say　when　the　rail　runs　over？〃



〃She　has　said　little　so　far。　　It　was　never　Mother　Gunga　that

delayed　us。〃



〃There　is　always　time　for　her；　and　none　the　less　there　has　been

delay。　　Has　the　Sahib　forgotten　last　autumn's　flood；　when　the

stone…boats　were　sunk　without　warning　…　or　only　a　half…day's

warning？〃



〃Yes；　but　nothing　save　a　big　flood　could　hurt　us　now。　　The　spurs

are　holding　well　on　the　West　Bank。〃



〃Mother　Gunga　eats　great　allowances。　　There　is　always　room　for

more　stone　on　the　revetments。　　I　tell　this　to　the　Chota　Sahib〃　…

he　meant　Hitchcock　…　〃and　he　laughs。〃



〃No　matter；　Peroo。　　Another　year　thou　wilt　be　able　to　build　a

bridge　in　thine　own　fashion。〃



The　Lascar　grinned。　　〃Then　it　will　not　be　in　this　way　…　with

stonework　sunk　under　water；　as　the　Qyetta　was　sunk。　　I　like

sus…sus…pen…sheen　bridges　that　fly　from　bank　to　bank。　　with　one

big　step；　like　a　gang…plank。　　Then　no　water　can　hurt。　　When　does

the　Lord　Sahib　come　to　open　the　bridge？〃



〃In　three　months；　when　the　weather　is　cooler。〃



〃Ho！　ho！　　He　is　like　the　Burra　Malum。　　He　sleeps　below　while　the

work　is　being　done。　　Then　he　comes　upon　the　quarter…deck　and

touches　with　his　finger；　and　says：　'This　is　not　clean！　　Dam

jibboonwallah！'〃



〃But　the　Lord　Sahib　does　not　call　me　a　dam　jibboonwallah；　Peroo。〃



〃No；　Sahib；　but　he　does　not　come　on　deck　till　the　work　is　all

finished。　　Even　the　Burra　Malum　of　the　Nerbudda　said　once　at

Tuticorin　…〃



〃Bah！　　Go！　　I　am　busy。〃



〃I；　also！〃　said　Peroo；　with　an　unshaken　countenance。　　〃May　I　take

the　light　dinghy　now　and　row　along　the　spurs？〃



〃To　hold　them　with　thy　hands？　　They　are；　I　think；　sufficiently　heavy。〃



〃Nay；　Sahib。　　It　is　thus。　　At　sea；　on　the　Black　Water；　we　have

room　to　be　blown　up　and　down　without　care。　　Here　we　have　no　room

at　all。　　Look　you；　we　have　put　the　river　into　a　dock；　and　run　her

between　stone　sills。〃



Findlayson　smiled　at　the　〃we。〃



〃We　have　bitted　and　bridled　her。　　She　is　not　like　the　sea；　that

can　beat　against　a　soft　beach。　　She　is　Mother　Gunga　…　in　irons。〃

His　voice　fell　a　little。



〃Peroo；　thou　hast　been　up　and　down　the　world　more　even　than　I。

Speak　true　talk；　now。　　How　much　dost　thou　in　thy　heart　believe　of

Mother　Gunga？〃



〃All　that　our　priest　says。　　London　is　London；　Sahib。　　Sydney　is

Sydney；　and　Port　Darwin　is　Port　Darwin。　　Also　Mother　Gunga　is

Mother　Gunga；　and　when　I　come　back　to　her　banks　I　know　this　and

worship。　　In　London　I　did　poojah　to　the　big　temple　by　the　river

for　the　sake　of　the　God　within。　。　。　。　　Yes；　I　will　not　take　the

cushions　in　the　dinghy。〃



Findlayson　mounted　his　horse　and　trotted　to　the　shed　of　a

bungalow　that　he　shared　with　his　assistant。　　The　place　had　become

home　to　him　in　the　last　three　years。　　He　had　grilled　in　the　heat；

sweated　in　the　rains；　and　shivered　with　fever　under　the　rude

thatch　roof；　the　lime…wash　beside　the　door　was　covered　with　rough

drawings　and　formulae；　and　the　sentry…path　trodden　in　the　matting

of　the　verandah　showed　where　he　had　walked　alone。　　There　is　no

eight…hour　limit　to　an　engineer's　work；　and　the　evening　meal　with

Hitchcock　was　eaten　booted　and　spurred：　over　their　cigars　they

listened　to　the　hum　of　the　village　as　the　gangs　came　up　from　the

river…bed　and　the　lights　began　to　twinkle。



〃Peroo　has　gone　up　the　spurs　in　your　dinghy。　　He's　taken　a　couple

of　nephews　with　him；　and　he's　lolling　in　the　stern　like　a

commodore；〃　said　Hitchcock。



〃That's　all　right。　　He's　got　something　on　his　mind。　　You'd　think

that　ten　years　in　the　British　India　boats　would　have　knocked　most

of　his　religion　out　of　him。〃



〃So　it　has；〃　said　Hitchcock；　chuckling。　　〃I　overheard　him　the

other　day　in　the　middle　of　a　most　atheistical　talk　with　that　fat

old　guru　of　theirs。　　Peroo　denied　the　efficacy　of　prayer；　and

wanted　the　guru　to　go　to　sea　and　watch　a　gale　out　with　him；　and

see　if　he　could　stop　a　monsoon。〃



〃All　the　same；　if　you　carried　off　his　guru　he'd　leave　us　like　a

shot。　　He　was　yarning　away　to　me　about　praying　to　the　dome　of　St。　

Paul's　when　he　was　in　London。〃



〃He　told　me　that　the　first　time　he　went　into　the　engine…room　of　a

steamer；　when　he　was　a　boy；　he　prayed　to　the　low…pressure

cylinder。〃



〃Not　half　a　bad　thing　to　pray　to；　either。　　He's　propitiating　his

own　Gods　now；　and　he　wants　to　know　what　Mother　Gunga　will　think

of　a　bridge　being　run　across　her。　　Who's　there？〃　　A　shadow　darkened

the　doorway；　and　a　telegram　was　put　into　Hitchcock's　hand。



〃She　ought　to　be　pretty　well　used　to　it　by　this　time。　　Only　a

tar。　It　ought　to　be　Ralli's　answer　about　the　new　rivets。　。　。　。　

Great　Heavens！〃　　Hitchcock　jumped　to　his　feet。



〃What　is　it？〃　said　the　senior；　and　took　the　form。　　〃that's　what

Mother　Gunga　thinks；　is　it；〃　he　said；　reading。　　〃Keep　cool；

young　'un。　　We've　got　all　our　work　cut　out　for　us。　　Let's　see。　

Muir　wired　half　an　hour　ago：　'Floods　on　the　Ramgunga。　　Look　out。'　

Well；　that　gives　us　…　one；　two　…　nine　and　a　half　for　the　flood　to

reach　Melipur　Ghaut　and　seven's　sixteen　and　a　half　to　Lataoli　…

say　fifteen　hours　before　it　comes　down　to　us。〃



〃Curse　that　hill…fed　sewer　of　a　Ramgunga！　　Findlayson；　this　is　two

months　before　anything　could　have　been　expected；　and　the　left　bank

is　littered　up　with　stuff　still。　　Two　full　months　before　the　time！〃



〃That's　why　it　comes。　　I've　only　known　Indian　rivers　for

five…and…twenty　years；　and　I　don't　pretend　to　understand。　　Here

comes　another　tar。〃　Findlayson　opened　the　telegram。　　〃Cockran；

this　time；　from　the　Ganges　Canal：　'Heavy　rains　here。　　Bad。'　　He

might　have　saved　the　last　word。　　Well；　we　don't　want　to　know　any

more。　　We've　got　to　work　the　gangs　all　night　and　clean　up　the

riverbed。　　You'll　take　the　east　bank　and　work　out　to　meet　me　in

the　middle。　　Get　everything　that　floats　below　the　bridge：　we

shall　have　quite　enough　river…craft　coming　down　adrift　anyhow；

without　letting　the　stone…boats　ram　the　piers。　　What　have　you　got

on　the　east　bank　that　needs　looking　after？



〃Pontoon　…　one　big　pontoon　with　the　overhead　crane　on　it。　T'other

overhead　crane　on　the　mended　pontoon；　with　the　cart…road　rivets

from　Twenty　to　Twenty…three　piers　…　two　construction　lines；　and　a

turning…spur。　　The　pilework　must　take　its　chance；〃　said

Hitchcock。



〃All　right。　　Roll　up　everything　you　can　lay　hands　on。　　We'll　give

the　gang　fifteen　minutes　more　to　eat　their　grub。〃



Close　to　the　verandah　stood　a　big　night…gong；　never　used　except

for　flood；　or　fire　in　the　village。　　Hitchcock　had　called　for　a

fresh　horse；　and　was　off　to　his　side　of　the　bridge　when

Findlayson　took　the　cloth…bound　stick　and　smote　with　the　rubbing

stroke　that　brings　out　the　full　thunder　of　the　metal。



Long　before　the　last　rumble　ceased　every　night…gong　in　the

village　had　taken　up　the　warning。　　To　these　were　added　the　hoarse

screaming　of　conches　in　the　little　temples；　the　throbbing　of

drums　and　tom…toms；　and；　from　the　European　quarters；　where　the

riveters　lived；　McCartney's　bugle；　a　weapon　of　offence　on　Sundays

and　festivals；　brayed　desperately；　calling　to　〃Stables。〃　　Engine

after　engine　toiling　home　along　the　spurs　at　the　end　of　her　day's

work　whistled　in　answer　till　the　whistles　were　answered　from　the

far　bank。　　Then　the　big　gong　thundered　thrice　for　a　sign　that　it

was　flood　and　not　fire；　conch；　drum；　and　whistle　echoed　the

call；　and　the　village　quivered　to　the　sound　of　bare　feet　running

upon　soft　earth。　　The　order　in　all　cases　was　to　stand　by　the

day's　work　and　wait　instructions。　　The　gangs　poured　by　in　the

dusk；　men　stopping　to　knot　a　loin…cloth　or　fasten　a　sandal；

gang…foremen　shouting　to　their　subordinates　as　they　ran　or　paused

by　the　tool…issue　sheds　for　bars　and　mattocks；　locomotives

creeping　down　their　tracks　wheel…deep　in　the　crowd；　till　the

brown　torrent　disappeared　into　the　dusk　of　the　river…bed；　raced

over　the　pilework；　swarmed　along　the　lattices；　clustered　by　the

cranes；　and　stood　still　…　each　man　in　his　place。



Then　the　troubled　beating　of　the　gong　carried　the　order　to　take

up　everything　and　bear　it　beyond　high…water　mark；　and　the

flare…lamps　broke　out　by　the　hundred　between　the　webs　of　dull

iron　as　the　riveters　began　a　night's　work；　racing　against　the

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