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 river-bed. You'll take the
east bank and work out to meet me in the middle. Get every thing that
floats below the bridge: we shall have quite enough rivercraft 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