CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I A Promising Officer 1 II Dick's Troubles Begin 11 III The Punishment 22 IV Adversity 34 V The Concrete Truck 44 VI A Step Up 54 VII Dick Undertakes a Responsibility 65 VIII An Informal Court 75 IX Jake Fuller 85 X La Mignonne 97 XI Clare Gets a Shock 107 XII Dick Keeps His Promise 118 XIII The Return from the Fiesta 129 XIV Complications 140 XV The Missing Coal 151 XVI Jake Gets into Difficulties 161 XVII The Black-Funnel Boat 172 XVIII Dick Gets a Warning 184 XIX Jake Explains Matters 194 XX Don Sebastian 205 XXI Dick Makes a Bold Venture 215 XXII The Official Mind 225 XXIII The Clamp 237 XXIV The Altered Sailing List 247 XXV The Water-Pipe 259 XXVI The Liner's Fate 270 XXVII The Silver Clasp 282 XXVIII Rough Water 294 XXIX Kenwardine Takes a Risk 304 XXX The Last Encounter 314 XXXI Richter's Message 326 XXXII Ida Interferes 336
BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS
CHAPTER I
A PROMISING OFFICER
The lengthening shadows lay blue and cool beneath the alders by the waterside, though the cornfields that rolled back up the hill glowed a coppery yellow in the light of the setting sun. It was hot and, for the most part, strangely quiet in the bottom of the valley since the hammers had stopped, but now and then an order was followed by a tramp of feet and the rattle of chain-tackle. Along one bank of the river the reflections of the trees quivered in dark-green masses; the rest of the water was dazzlingly bright.
A pontoon bridge, dotted with figures in khaki, crossed a deep pool. At its head, where a white road ran down the hill, a detachment of engineers lounged in the shade. Their faces were grimed with sweat and dust, and some, with coats unbuttoned, sprawled in the grass. They had toiled hard through the heat of the day, and now were enjoying an "easy," until they should be called to attention when their work was put to the test.
As Lieutenant Richard Brandon stood where the curve was boldest at the middle of the bridge, he had no misgivings about the result so far as the section for which he was responsible was concerned. He was young, but there was some ground for his confidence; for he not only had studied all that text-books could teach him but he had the constructor's eye, which sees half-instinctively where strength or weakness lies. Brandon began his military career as a prize cadet and after getting his commission he was quickly promoted from subaltern rank. His advancement, however, caused no jealousy, for Dick Brandon was liked. He was, perhaps, a trifle priggish about his work--cock-sure, his comrades called it--but about other matters he was naïvely ingenuous. Indeed, acquaintances who knew him only when he was off duty thought him something of a boy.
In person, he was tall and strongly made, with a frank, sunburned face. His jaw was square and when he was thoughtful his lips set firmly; his light-gray eyes were clear and steady. He was genial with his comrades, but usually diffident in the company of women and older men.
Presently the Adjutant came up and, stopping near, glanced along the rippling line that marked the curve of the bridge.
"These center pontoons look rather prominent, as if they'd been pushed upstream a foot or two," he remarked. "Was that done by Captain Maitland's order?"
"No, sir," Dick answered with some awkwardness. "For one thing, I found they'd lie steadier out of the eddy."
"They do, but I don't know that it's much of an advantage. Had you any other reason for modifying the construction plans?"
Dick felt embarrassed. He gave the Adjutant a quick glance; but the man's face was inscrutable. Captain Hallam was a disciplinarian where discipline was needed, but he knew the value of what he called initiative.
"Well," Dick tried to explain, "if you notice how the wash of the head-rapid sweeps down the middle of the pool----"
......
CHAPTER PAGE
I A Promising Officer 1 II Dick's Troubles Begin 11 III The Punishment 22 IV Adversity 34 V The Concrete Truck 44 VI A Step Up 54 VII Dick Undertakes a Responsibility 65 VIII An Informal Court 75 IX Jake Fuller 85 X La Mignonne 97 XI Clare Gets a Shock 107 XII Dick Keeps His Promise 118 XIII The Return from the Fiesta 129 XIV Complications 140 XV The Missing Coal 151 XVI Jake Gets into Difficulties 161 XVII The Black-Funnel Boat 172 XVIII Dick Gets a Warning 184 XIX Jake Explains Matters 194 XX Don Sebastian 205 XXI Dick Makes a Bold Venture 215 XXII The Official Mind 225 XXIII The Clamp 237 XXIV The Altered Sailing List 247 XXV The Water-Pipe 259 XXVI The Liner's Fate 270 XXVII The Silver Clasp 282 XXVIII Rough Water 294 XXIX Kenwardine Takes a Risk 304 XXX The Last Encounter 314 XXXI Richter's Message 326 XXXII Ida Interferes 336
BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS
CHAPTER I
A PROMISING OFFICER
The lengthening shadows lay blue and cool beneath the alders by the waterside, though the cornfields that rolled back up the hill glowed a coppery yellow in the light of the setting sun. It was hot and, for the most part, strangely quiet in the bottom of the valley since the hammers had stopped, but now and then an order was followed by a tramp of feet and the rattle of chain-tackle. Along one bank of the river the reflections of the trees quivered in dark-green masses; the rest of the water was dazzlingly bright.
A pontoon bridge, dotted with figures in khaki, crossed a deep pool. At its head, where a white road ran down the hill, a detachment of engineers lounged in the shade. Their faces were grimed with sweat and dust, and some, with coats unbuttoned, sprawled in the grass. They had toiled hard through the heat of the day, and now were enjoying an "easy," until they should be called to attention when their work was put to the test.
As Lieutenant Richard Brandon stood where the curve was boldest at the middle of the bridge, he had no misgivings about the result so far as the section for which he was responsible was concerned. He was young, but there was some ground for his confidence; for he not only had studied all that text-books could teach him but he had the constructor's eye, which sees half-instinctively where strength or weakness lies. Brandon began his military career as a prize cadet and after getting his commission he was quickly promoted from subaltern rank. His advancement, however, caused no jealousy, for Dick Brandon was liked. He was, perhaps, a trifle priggish about his work--cock-sure, his comrades called it--but about other matters he was naïvely ingenuous. Indeed, acquaintances who knew him only when he was off duty thought him something of a boy.
In person, he was tall and strongly made, with a frank, sunburned face. His jaw was square and when he was thoughtful his lips set firmly; his light-gray eyes were clear and steady. He was genial with his comrades, but usually diffident in the company of women and older men.
Presently the Adjutant came up and, stopping near, glanced along the rippling line that marked the curve of the bridge.
"These center pontoons look rather prominent, as if they'd been pushed upstream a foot or two," he remarked. "Was that done by Captain Maitland's order?"
"No, sir," Dick answered with some awkwardness. "For one thing, I found they'd lie steadier out of the eddy."
"They do, but I don't know that it's much of an advantage. Had you any other reason for modifying the construction plans?"
Dick felt embarrassed. He gave the Adjutant a quick glance; but the man's face was inscrutable. Captain Hallam was a disciplinarian where discipline was needed, but he knew the value of what he called initiative.
"Well," Dick tried to explain, "if you notice how the wash of the head-rapid sweeps down the middle of the pool----"
......
