“The engineer’s bringing her along fast.  Shall I flag him to snub her and shut the throttle before he runs across the new stuff?”

“No,” said Festing quietly.  “It won’t be needful.”

“The work hasn’t had much time to settle, and a locomotive using steam hits the rails harder than when she’s running loose.”

“We don’t want our money until it’s earned, and you’ll have to haul heavy loads up the grade when the regular traffic begins.”

“In the meantime, I’m not thinking about the rest, but about the gravel train.”

“The track will stand,” said Festing, in a steady voice.

The train came on; the long, low-sided cars rocking and banging down the incline.  Small figures jolted up and down on the gravel, and at the far end the big plow flashed in the sun.  The front of the engine got larger, and Festing fixed his eyes upon the rockwork he had built among the piles.  All that could be done had been done; he had not spared money or labor, for Charnock had agreed that the job must stand.  It was, no doubt, exaggerated sentiment, for he was highly strung, but he felt that he had staked his wife’s respect and his future happiness on his work.

The ground shook, and flying fragments of ballast beat upon his turned-down hat; there was a deafening roar as the cars jolted past, and he saw the rails spring.  Then the wind that buffeted him changed to eddying puffs, the noise receded, and he lifted his bent head.  The rockwork stood firm, the ends of the timbers had not moved, and only a few small heaps of gravel had fallen from the road-bed.  Festing felt that he was trembling, and Kerr put his hand on his arm.

“It’s a good job; I’m quite satisfied.  If you’ll come along to Norton’s office, I’ll tell him he can give you an order on headquarters for your cheque.”

“I’ll come instead,” said Charnock, who turned to Festing.  “Go to the shack and take a smoke.  If you come out before I return, I’ll stop the gang.”

Half an hour later he found Festing sitting slackly by the fire.

“The order is in the mail-bag and will go out on the first train,” he said.  “It’s lucky we got it, because we have cut things very fine.  I had a note some days since from the fellow who sends us our stores, insisting on our settling his bill.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Festing asked.

Charnock laughed.  “I imagined you had enough to bother you, and his account is big.  We couldn’t have paid him without going broke, and wages have first claim.  There was a way out, but you had given me strict orders not to write to Sadie.”

“I couldn’t have allowed that, but you’re a good sort, Bob!”

“Well,” said Charnock cheerfully, “it was, so to speak, touch and go; but we have turned the awkward corner, and I think are going to make good.”

CHAPTER XXVI

A NEW UNDERTAKING