Not Long After This Occurrence My Own Labours
Were One Day Nearly Brought To A Sudden And
Unpleasant End.
I was travelling along in an
empty trolley which, pushed by two sturdy
Pathans, was returning to the quarry for sand.
Presently we came to the sharp incline which led
to the log bridge over the river.
Here it was the
custom of the men, instead of running beside the
trolley, to step on to it and to let its own
momentum take it down the slope, moderating
its speed when necessary by a brake in the shape
of a pole, which one of them carried and by which
the wheels could be locked. On this occasion,
however, the pole was by some accident dropped
overboard, and down the hill we flew without
brake of any kind. Near the bridge there was
a sharp curve in the line, where I was afraid
the trolley would jump the rails; still, I thought
it was better to stick to it than to risk leaping
off. A moment afterwards I felt myself flying
head first over the edge of the bridge, just missing
by a hair's breadth a projecting beam; but luckily
I landed on a sand bank at the side of the river,
the heavy trolley falling clear of me with a dull
thud close by. This accident, also, was happily
unattended by injury to anyone.
CHAPTER V
TROUBLES WITH THE WORKMEN
It seemed fated that the building of the Tsavo
Bridge should never be allowed to proceed in
peace for any length of time.
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