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Updated: June 4, 2025
Charnock sat at a table strewn with papers that looked like bills, and there was a smear of ink on his chin. "Hallo!" he said. "Sit down and take a smoke while I get through with these." Festing pulled a chair into his favorite corner by the stove and looked about when he had lighted his pipe. The room was comfortless and bare, with cracked, board walls, from which beads of resin exuded.
"Then I think I know why you came," said Festing, who pondered for a few moments. He had courage and decision, and it was his habit to face a crisis boldly. "Now," he resumed, "I'm going to ask your opinion of my prospects if I stay on the road?" "Your record's good. You're sure of a post, so long as there's any construction work going on." "A post of a kind!
Festing nodded. "There's no use in piling rock about half-bedded frames. It would mean trouble if they gave way under a freight train." "You look ahead. The first difficulty is that if the frames don't hold up, you won't get paid. The engineers are responsible after the regular traffic starts, and I've no doubt they test a contractor's work.
Fortunately, however, HMS Baracouta, Captain Freemantle, arrived upon the spot, and a body of 110 marines under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Festing, of the Royal Marine Artillery, was landed. Martial law was proclaimed.
"You don't seem to have expected me, though, to some extent, I'm responsible for your being here," he said. "However, I'm remarkably glad we have met again." Festing, awkwardly conscious that his welcome was somewhat cold, indicated a chair, and sitting down opposite began to fill his pipe. Dalton sometimes wrote to Helen, but had not mentioned his being sent to British Columbia.
He was unhurt, but too surprised to move, because he had never seen anybody move as fast as the man who threw him down. Then Festing heard steps behind, and turned in time to guard his head with his right arm. It felt numb and he was half dazed by a shock of pain, but he struck savagely with his left hand and his knuckles jarred on bone.
Raging floods, snowslides, and rocks that rolled down the mountain side and smashed the track never daunted them. Their character had something of the clean hardness of finely tempered steel. But Charnock was different. "So you think of quitting?" Festing said at length. "I'm forced to quit; I'm in too deep to get straight.
Horseshoe iron's better for your particular job. Come back in a day or two and I'll have the thing ready." Charnock left him and one afternoon soon afterwards helped Festing to notch and bore the heavy cross-tie to fit the post and the ends of the timbers it was to hold in place.
Kerr sent has had some training and knows his job." "Then my partner's worse?" "Well, I'll own that I'm anxious about to-night; but if he gets over the early morning, I'll have hope. Go to the engineer's shack and I'll send you a report, if possible." Charnock tried to brace himself as he went away. So far, he had not imagined that Festing might die.
He shouted to the men at the tackle, who bent their backs and hauled, but the timber did not rise as it ought. Charnock, looking round, noted that the stake the tackle was fastened to was pulling out. "Get from under! She's coming down on top of you!" he cried. Festing looked up and saw the danger; but if the log fell it would not stop until it and the tackle plunged into the rapid below.
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