THE BOYS BUILD A BRIDGE G1sr06

 6. THE BOYS BUILD A BRIDGE

"Do you all agree, then? "asked David. "We will go for a long cycle ride during the holidays. I expect the other three will agree. We can ask them when they come.”

“But what about Sammy?” said Roy. “He hasn't got a bicycle. His father can't afford to buy him one.”

“Oh, we hadn't thought of that,” said David thoughtfully. “I wonder if we can borrow one for him.”

At that moment Robert, Henry and Sammy arrived.

“You three are late,” said Roy. “What happened to you?”

“We had to come round the long way,” said Robert. “The old bridge over the stream has collapsed.”

“And that means we had to walk an extra quarter of a mile and use the other bridge,” added Henry. “The stream must be nearly five feet deep after all this rain.”

“Don't worry,” said David. “The Town Council will soon build another one.”

“Oh no,” replied Henry quickly. “My father has already asked about that. There isn't enough money this year.”

The boys were silent for a moment.

“I wonder who built that old bridge,” Robert said. “It was only a few tree trunks and planks held together with some nails.” Then an idea struck him. “Do you think we could rebuild it?”

“How wide is the gap?” asked David.

“About ten or fifteen yards, I think,” replied Robert.

“You know …” David paused. “I think we could do it, if we planned it properly and could borrow the tools.”

“And if we could get the timber,” added Roy. “What do we need?”

The boys started to consider the idea seriously. Sammy told them that his elder brother worked in the Public Works Department and could probably make a plan for them.

“I'll ask him to come and look at the old bridge tomorrow,” said Sammy. “I'm sure he'll help us.”

Their greatest problem was to find enough planks and thick beams. The next day the boys visited nearly every house in the area. In the evening they returned to their hut and told each other about their visits. Henry was very excited.

“I must tell you this,” he burst out. “Mr Robinson has promised to supply the wood as long as we do the work and finish it within a month.”

“Splendid” said Robert. “That will certainly solve our problem.”

“There's another thing,” said David. “Roy and I found that several people will give us money if we build a new bridge. It's a short cut for them.”

"Then let's start work," said Robert. "Sammy's brother is making a plan now."

The next day the boys cleared away the remains of the old bridge. They then climbed down the sides of the stream and dug holes for the supports— one on each bank.

Mr. Robinson kept his promise and sent a lorryload of timber. The boys soon slipped the supports into their holes, and at the end of a week of hard work, two thick logs had been lowered on to them from each bank. The most difficult job was to get the long logs across the middle. The boys fastened a rope to each log, threw the rope over, and then pulled the log into position. Mr. Robinson walked out each evening to see how the work was getting on, and the boys knew he was proud of them.

The last job was simple. The boys nailed the planks across the logs, and strengthened these with other planks which ran right across the bridge. Three days after the start of the holidays, the bridge was finished. The boys met in their hut to decide on an opening ceremony for their bridge.

The next day, at six o' clock the boys gathered at the bridge. Mr Robinson appeared with nearly forty of the people of that district. In a little speech he praised the boys for their efforts. The neighbours clapped, and the boys felt even more pleased with their work.