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BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS

      *      *      *      *      *

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Alton of Somasco
Lorimer of the Northwest
Thurston of Orchard Valley
Winston of the Prairie
The Gold Trail
Sydney Carteret, Rancher
A Prairie Courtship
Vane of the Timberlands
The Long Portage
Ranching for Sylvia
Prescott of Saskatchewan
The Dust of Conflict
The Greater Power
Masters of the Wheatlands
Delilah of the Snows
By Right of Purchase
The Cattle Baron's Daughter
Thrice Armed
For Jacinta
The Intriguers
The League of the Leopard
For the Allison Honor
The Secret of the Reef
Harding of Allenwood
The Coast of Adventure
Johnstons of the Border
Brandon of the Engineers

      *      *      *      *      *


BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS

by

HAROLD BINDLOSS

Author of "Johnstone of the Border," "Prescott
of Saskatchewan," "Winston of the Prairie," etc.







[Illustration: "'YOU MUST COME. I CAN'T LET YOU LIVE AMONG THOSE
PLOTTERS AND GAMBLERS.'"--Page 224.]


New York
Frederick A. Stokes Company
Publishers

Copyright, 1916, by Frederick A. Stokes Company
Published in England under the Title "His One Talent"

All Rights Reserved




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 naively 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----"

"I have noticed it," said the Adjutant dryly. "That's why the bridge
makes a slight sweep. But go on."

"We found a heavy drag on the center that flattened the curve. Of course,
if we could have pushed it up farther, we'd have got a stronger form."

"Why?"

"It's obvious, sir. If we disregard the moorings, a straight bridge would
tend to curve downstream and open out under a shearing strain. As we get
nearer the arch form it naturally gets stiffer, because the strain
becomes compressive. After making the bridge strong enough for traffic,
the problem is to resist the pressure of the current."

"True," the Adjutant agreed with a smile. "Well, we'll let the pontoons
stand. The traditions of the British Army are changing fast, but while we
don't demand the old mechanical obedience, it might be better not to
introduce too marked innovations. Anyhow, it's not desirable that they
should, so to speak, strike a commanding officer in the eye. Some
officers are conservative and don't like that kind of thing."

He moved on and Dick wondered whether he had said too much. He was apt to
forget his rank and comparative unimportance when technical matters were
discussed. In fact, it was sometimes difficult not to appear
presumptuous; but when one knew that one was right----

In the meantime, the Adjutant met the Colonel, and they stopped together
at the bridge-head.

"I think we have made a good job, but the brigade's transport is pretty
heavy," the Colonel remarked.

"I'm satisfied with the bridge, sir; very creditable work for beginners.
If the other branches of the new armies are as good----"

"The men are in earnest. Things, of course, are changing, and I suppose
old-fashioned prejudices must go overboard. Personally, I liked the type
we had before the war, but we'll let that go. Young Brandon strikes me as
particularly keen."

"Keen as mustard," the Adjutant agreed. "In other ways, perhaps, he's
more of the kind you have been used to."

"Now I wonder what you mean by that! You're something of what they're
pleased to call a progressive, aren't you? However, I like the lad. His
work is good."

"He _knows_, sir."

"Ah," said the Colonel, "I think I understand. But what about the
drawings of the new pontoons? They must be sent to-night."

"They're ready. To tell the truth, I showed them to Brandon and he made a
good suggestion about