United States or Fiji ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Ransome pushed rapidly on, up hill and down dale, till he reached the high hill, at whose foot lay the hamlet of Damflask, distant two miles from Ousely Reservoir. He looked down and saw a few lights in this hamlet, some stationary, but two moving. "Hum," thought Ransome, "they don't seem to be quite so easy in their minds up here."
I don't think it is the water, altogether; the water seems to make air inside them, and that proves as bad for them as wind in a man's stomach." "Governor," said the engineer, "don't you let bees swarm in your bonnet. Ousely reservoir will last as long as them hills there." "No, doubt, lad, since thou's had a hand in making it."
"That will be for me," said Ransome. "I thought I should not get leave to drink my tea in peace." He was right; a mounted policeman brought him a note from the mayor, telling him word had come into the town that there was something wrong with Ousely dam. He was to take the mayor's horse, and ride up at once to the reservoir, and, if there was any danger, to warn the valley.
However he touched the horse with his heel, and cantered forward on his errand. John Ransome rode up to the Ousely Reservoir, and down again in less than an hour and a half; and every incident of those two rides is imprinted on his memory for life. He first crossed the water at Poma bridge.
The little imps were clad in shoes, night-gowns, night-caps, and a blanket apiece, and were shivering and whining at being turned out of bed into the night air. Ransome asked the man what was the matter One of the by-standers laughed, and said, satirically, Ousely dam was to burst that night, so all the pigs and children were making for the hill.
Word Of The Day