This Would Have Taken Too Long
To Erect When Railhead Was At The Place, So A
Diversion Had Been Made Round It, The Temporary
Track Leading Down Almost To The Bed Of The
Nullah And Up Again On The Further Side.
When
the foundations and abutments were ready, the
gully was spanned by an iron girder, the slopes
leading up to it banked up on either side, and the
permanent way laid on an easy grade.
Then, also, a water supply had to be
established; and this meant some very pleasant work
for me in taking levels up the banks of the
river under the cool shade of the palms. While
doing this, I often took my camp-kit with me,
and a luncheon served in the wilds, with
occasionally a friend to share it - when a friend was
available - was delightful. On one occasion in
particular, I went a long way up the river and was
accompanied by a young member of my staff.
The day had been exceedingly hot and we were
both correspondingly tired when our work was
finished, so my companion suggested that we
should build a raft and float down-stream home.
I was rather doubtful, of the feasibility of the
scheme, but nevertheless he decided to give it a
trial. Setting to work with our axes, we soon
had a raft built, lashing the poles together with
the fibre which grows in abundance all over the
district. When it was finished, we pushed it
out of the little backwater where it had been
constructed, and the young engineer jumped
aboard.
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