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 river-bed."

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.