the bridge-builders- 第8部分

Hitchcock　shouted。　　But　he　need　have　asked　no　questions；　for

Findlayson's　first　demand　was　for　his　bridge。



〃All　serene！　　'Gad；　I　never　expected　to　see　you　again；　Findlayson。

You're　seven　koss　downstream。　　Yes；　there's　not　a　stone　shifted

anywhere；　but　how　are　you？　　I　borrowed　the　Rao　Sahib's　launch；　and

he　was　good　enough　to　come　along。　　Jump　in。　　〃Ah；　Finlinson；　you

are　very　well；　eh？　　That　was　most　unprecedented　calamity　last

night；　eh？　　My　royal　palace；　too；　it　leaks　like　the　devil；　and　the

crops　will　also　be　short　all　about　my　country。　　Now　you　shall

back　her　out；　Hitchcock。　　I　…　I　do　not　understand　steam…engines。　

You　are　wet？　　You　are　cold；　Finlinson？　　I　have　some　things　to　eat

here；　and　you　will　take　a　good　drink。〃



〃I'm　immensely　grateful；　Rao　Sahib。　　I　believe　you've　saved　my

life。　　How　did　Hitchcock　…〃



〃Oho！　　His　hair　was　upon　end。　　He　rode　to　me　in　the　middle　of　the

night　and　woke　me　up　in　the　arms　of　Morpheus。　　I　was　most　truly

concerned；　Finlinson；　so　I　came　too。　　My　head…priest　he　is　very

angry　just　now。　　We　will　go　quick；　Mister　Hitchcock。　　I　am　due　to

attend　at　twelve　forty…five　in　the　state　temple；　where　we

sanctify　some　new　idol。　　If　not　so　I　would　have　asked　you　to

spend　the　day　with　me。　　They　are　dam…bore；　these　religious

ceremonies；　Finlinson；　eh？〃



Peroo；　well　known　to　the　crew；　had　possessed　himself　of　the

inlaid　wheel；　and　was　taking　the　launch　craftily　up…stream。　　But

while　he　steered　he　was；　in　his　mind；　handling　two　feet　of

partially　untwisted　wire…rope；　and　the　back　upon　which　he　beat

was　the　back　of　his　guru。











End