Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

One boat, deeply laden with hospital stores, was being carried down the stream at great speed. It was obvious that she wad hove off from the bank too close to the bridge and was unable to reach out sufficiently far into mid-stream to clear the bridge opening. The Arabs on board were filled with excitement as they saw their boat borne down on the bridge. One she came straight for the line of boats and, with a loud crash was hurled into the bridge. The whole structure bent before the impact; anchors were dragged; timbers were rent asunder. The object now became that of saving the bridge which at any moment might be torn apart under the added strain. Ropes were hurried to the bank; the additional stays were passed from the boats to the shore;