put yourself in his place-第103部分

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Farmer　Emden　was　standing　at　the　door　of　his　house；　and；　in　reply　to　Ransome；　told　him　he　had　just　come　down　from　the　reservoir。　　He　had　seen　the　crack　and　believed　it　to　be　a　mere　frost　crack。　　He　apprehended　no　danger；　and　had　sent　his　people　to　bed；　however；　he　should　sit　up　for　an　hour　or　two　just　to　hear　what　Tucker　the　engineer　had　to　say　about　it；　he　had　been　sent　for。

Ransome　left　him；　and　a　smart　canter　brought　him　in　sight　of　what　seemed　a　long　black　hill；　with　great　glow…worms　dotted　here　and　there。

That　hill　was　the　embankment；　and　the　glow…worms　were　the　lanterns　of　workmen　examining　the　outer　side　of　the　embankment　and　prying　into　every　part。

The　enormous　size　and　double　slope　of　the　bank；　its　apparent　similarity　in　form　and　thickness　to　those　natural　barriers　with　which　nature　hems　in　lakes　of　large　dimensions；　acted　on　Ransome's　senses；　and　set　him　wondering　at　the　timidity　and　credulity　of　the　people　in　Hatfield　and　Damflask。　　This　sentiment　was　uppermost　in　his　mind　when　he　rode　up　to　the　south　side　of　the　embankment。

He　gave　his　horse　to　a　boy；　and　got　upon　the　embankment　and　looked　north。

The　first　glance　at　the　water　somewhat　shook　that　impression　of　absolute　security　the　outer　side　of　the　barrier　had　given　him。

In　nature　a　lake　lies　at　the　knees　of　the　restraining　hills；　or　else　has　a　sufficient　outlet。

But　here　was　a　lake　nearly　full　to　the　brim　on　one　side　of　the　barrier　and　an　open　descent　on　the　other。

He　had　encountered　a　little　wind　coming　up；　but　not　much；　here；　however；　the　place　being　entirely　exposed；　the　wind　was　powerful　and　blew　right　down　the　valley　ruffling　the　artificial　lake。

Altogether　it　was　a　solemn　scene；　and；　even　at　first　glance；　one　that　could　not　be　surveyed；　after　all　those　comments　and　reports；　without　some　awe　and　anxiety。　　The　surface　of　the　lake　shone　like　a　mirror；　and　waves　of　some　size　dashed　against　the　embankment　with　a　louder　roar　than　one　would　have　thought　possible；　and　tossed　some　spray　clean　over　all；　while；　overhead；　clouds；　less　fleecy　now；　and　more　dark　and　sullen；　drifted　so　swiftly　across　the　crescent　moon　that　she　seemed　flying　across　the　sky。

Having　now　realized　that　the　embankment；　huge　as　it　was；　was　not　so　high　by　several　hundred　feet　as　nature　builds　in　parallel　cases；　and　that；　besides　the　natural　pressure　of　the　whole　water；　the　upper　surface　of　the　lake　was　being　driven　by　the　wind　against　the　upper　or　thin　part　of　the　embankment；　Ransome　turned　and　went　down　the　embankment　to　look　at　the　crack　and　hear　opinions。

There　were　several　workmen；　an　intelligent　farmer　called　Ives；　and　Mr。　Mountain；　one　of　the　contractors　who　had　built　the　dam；　all　examining　the　crack。

Mr。　Mountain　was　remarking　that　the　crack　was　perfectly　dry；　a　plain　proof　there　was　no　danger。

〃Ay；　but；〃　said　Ives；　〃it　has　got　larger　since　tea…time；　see；　I　can　get　my　hand　in　now。〃

〃Can　you　account　for　that？〃　asked　Ransome　of　the　contractor。

Mountain　said　it　was　caused　by　the　embankment　settling。　　〃Everything　settles　down　a　littlehouses　and　embankments　and　all。　　There's　no　danger；　Mr。　Ransome；　believe　me。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Ransome；　〃I　am　not　a　man　of　science；　but　I　have　got　eyes；　and　I　see　the　water　is　very　high；　and　driving　against　your　weak　part。　　Ah！〃　　Then　he　remembered　Little's　advice。　　〃Would　you　mind　opening　the　sluice…pipes？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；　but　I　think　it　is　the　engineer's　business　to　give　an　order　of　that　kind。〃

〃But　he　is　not　here；　and　professional　etiquette　must　give　way　where　property　and　lives；　perhaps；　are　at　stake。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Mountain；　I　have　got　the　advice　of　an　abler　man　than　Mr。　Tucker。　His　word　to　me　was；　'If　the　water　is　as　high　as　they　say；　don't　waste　time；　but　open　the　sluices　and　relieve　the　dam。'〃

The　workmen　who　had　said　scarcely　a　word　till　then；　raised　an　assenting　murmur　at　the　voice　of　common　sense。


Mountain　admitted　it　could　do　no　harm；　and　gave　an　order　accordingly；　screws　wore　applied　and　the　valves　of　the　double　set　of　sluice…pipes　were　forced　open；　but　with　infinite　difficulty；　owing　to　the　tremendous　pressure　of　the　water。

This　operation　showed　all　concerned　what　a　giant　they　were　dealing　with；　while　the　sluices　were　being　lifted；　the　noise　and　tremor　of　the　pipes　were　beyond　experience　and　conception。　　When；　after　vast　efforts；　they　were　at　last　got　open；　the　ground　trembled　violently；　and　the　water；　as　it　rushed　out　of　the　pipes；　roared　like　discharges　of　artillery。　　So　hard　is　it　to　resist　the　mere　effect　of　the　senses；　that　nearly　every　body　ran　back　appalled；　although　the　effect　of　all　this　roaring　could　only　be　to　relieve　the　pressure；　and；　in　fact；　now　that　those　sluices　were　opened；　the　dam　was　safe；　provided　it　could　last　a　day　or　two。

Lights　were　seen　approaching；　and　Mr。　Tucker；　the　resident　engineer；　drove　up；　he　had　Mr。　Carter；　one　of　the　contractors；　in　the　gig　with　him。

He　came　on　the　embankment；　and　signified　a　cold　approval　of　the　sluices　being　opened。

Then　Ransome　sounded　him　about　blowing　up　the　waste…wear。

Tucker　did　not　reply；　but　put　some　questions　to　a　workman　or　two。　Their　answers　showed　that　they　considered　the　enlargement　of　the　crack　a　fatal　sign。

Upon　this　Mr。　Tucker　ordered　them　all　to　stand　clear　of　the　suspected　part。

〃Now；　then；〃　said　he；　〃I　built　this　embankment；　and　I'll　tell　you　whether　it　is　going　to　burst　or　not。〃

Then　he　took　a　lantern；　and　was　going　to　inspect　the　crack　himself；　but　Mr。　Carter；　respecting　his　courage　and　coolness；　would　accompany　him。　　They　went　to　the　crack；　examined　it　carefully　with　their　lanterns；　and　then　crossed　over　to　the　waste…wear；　no　water　was　running　into　it　in　the　ordinary　way；　which　showed　the　dam　was　not　full　to　its　utmost　capacity。

They　returned；　and　consulted　with　Mountain。

Ransome　put　in　his　word；　and　once　more　remembering　Little's　advice；　begged　them　to　blow　up　the　waste…wear。

Tucker　thought　that　was　a　stronger　measure　than　the　occasion　required；　there　was　no　immediate　danger；　and　the　sluice…pipes　would　lower　the　water　considerably　in　twenty…four　hours。

Farmer　Ives　put　in　his　word。　　〃I　can't　learn　from　any　of　you　that　an　enlarging　crack　in　a　new　embankment　is　a　common　thing。　　I　shall　go　home；　but　my　boots　won't　come　off　this　night。〃

Encouraged　by　this；　Mr。　Mountain；　the　contractor；　spoke　out。

〃Mr。　Tucker；〃　said　he；　〃don't　deceive　yourself；　the　sluice…pipes　are　too　slow；　if　we　don't　relieve　the　dam；　there'll　be　a　blow…up　in　half　an　hour；　mark　my　words。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Tucker；　〃no　precaution　has　been　neglected　in　building　this　dam：　provision　has　been　made　even　for　blowing　up　the　waste…wear；　a　hole　has　been　built　in　the　masonry；　and　there's　dry　powder　and　a　fuse　kept　at　the　valve…house。　　I'll　blow　up　the　waste…　wear；　though　I　think　it　needless。　　I　am　convinced　that　crack　is　above　the　level　of　the　water　in　the　reservoir。〃

This　observation　struck　Ransome；　and　he　asked　if　it　could　not　be　ascertained　by　measurement。

〃Of　course　it　can；〃　said　Tucker；　〃and　I'll　measure　it　as　I　come　back。〃

He　then　started　for　the　wear；　and　Carter　accompanied　him。

They　crossed　the　embankment；　and　got　to　the　wear。

Ives　went　home；　and　the　workmen　withdrew　to　the　side；　not　knowing　exactly　what　might　be　the　effect　of　the　explosion。

By…and…by　Ransome　looked　up；　and　observed　a　thin　sheet　of　water　beginning　to　stream　over　the　center　of　the　embankment　and　trickle　down：　the　quantity　was　nothing；　but　it　alarmed　him。　　Having　no　special　knowledge　on　these　matters；　he　was　driven　to　comparisons；　and　it　flashed　across　him　that；　when　he　was　a　boy；　and　used　to　make　little　mud…dams　in　April；　they　would　resist　the　tiny　stream　until　it　trickled　over　them；　and　from　that　moment　their　fate　was　sealed。　Nature；　he　had　observed；　operates　alike　in　small　things　and　great；　and　that　sheet　of　water；　though　thin　as　a　wafer；　alarmed　him。

He　thought　it　was　better　to　give　a　false　warning　than　withhold　a　true　one；　he　ran　to　his　horse；　jumped　on　him；　and　spurred　away。

His　horse　was　fast　and　powerful；　and　carried　him　in　three　minutes　back　to　Emden's　farm。　　The　farmer　had　gone　to　bed。　　Ransome　knocked　him　up；　and　told　him　he　feared　the　dam　was　going；　then　galloped　on　to　Hatfield　Mill。　　Here　he　found　the　miller　and　his　family　all　gathered　outside；　ready　for　a　start；　one　workman　had　run　down　from　the　reservoir。

〃The　embankment　is　not　safe。〃

〃So　I　hear。　　I'll　take　care　of　my　flour　and　my　folk。　　The　mill　will　take　care　of　itself。〃　　And　he　pointed　with　pride　to　the　solid　structure　and　granite　pillars。

Ransome　galloped　on；　shouting　as　he　went。

The　shout　was　taken　up　ahead；　and　he　heard　a　voice　crying　in　the　night；　〃IT'S　COMING！　　IT'S　COMING！〃　　This　weird　cry；　which；　perhaps；　his　own　galloping　and　shouting　had　excited；　seemed　like　an　independent　warning；　and　thrilled　him　to　the　bone。　　He　galloped　through　Hatfield；　shouting；　〃Save　yourselves！　　Save　yourselves！〃　and　the　people　poured　out；　and　ran　for　high　ground；　shrieking　wildly；　looking　back；　he　saw　the　hill　dotted　with　what　he　took　for　sheep　at　first；　but　it　was　the　folk　in　their　night…clothes。

He　galloped　on　to　Damflask；　still　shouting　as　he　went。

At　the　edge　of　the　hamlet；　he　found　a　cottage　with　no　light　in　it；　he　dismounted　and　thundered　at　the　door：　〃Escape　for　your　lives！　for　your　lives！〃

A　man　called　Hillsbro'　Harry　opened　the　window。

〃The　embankrncnt　is　going。　　Fly　for　your　lives！〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　man；　coolly；　〃Ouseley　dam　will　brust　noane　this　week；〃　and　turned　to　go　to　bed　again。

He　found　Joseph　Galton　and　another　man　carrying　Mrs。　Galton　and　her　new…born　child　away　in　a　blanket。　　This　poor　woman；　who　had　sent　her　five　children　away　on　the　faith　of　a　dream；　was　now　objecting；　in　a　faint　voice；　to　be　saved　herself　from　evident　danger。　　〃Oh；　dear；　dear！　you　might　as　well　let　me　go　down　with　the　flood　as　kill　me　with　taking　me　away。〃

Such　was　the　sapient　discourse　of　Mrs。　Galton；　who；　half　an　hour　ago；　had　been　supernaturally　wise　and　prudent。　　Go　to；　wise　mother　and　silly　woman；　men　will　love　thee　none　the　less　for　the　inequalities　of　thine　intellect；　and　honest　Joe　will　save　thy　life；　and　heed　thy　twaddle　no　more　than　the　bleating　of　a　lamb。

Ransome　had　not　left　the　Galtons　many　yards　behind　him；　when　there　was　a　sharp　ex