Down-river, he manages to swim to safety.[Scenes of Shears"" escape and struggles are alternatingly cross-cut with scenes back at the camp.] Construction resumes on he bridge, but progress is slow, ineffectual and behind schedule, fouled by accidental mishaps and engineering failures - without the presence of the morale-boosting commander.A gun fires six times in rhythmic empo, killing thin-mustached owner Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott).The murderer is unseen - a missing action shot in the film is not revealed until the end.The bullets shatter a mirror behind the victim.As he victim lurches forward, slumps over and falls to the floor in front of a flickering fire in the dimly lit room, the gun is tossed in front of the body.He daintily sips tea with his grimy hands and tries to apologize but only makes things worse: "Just listen to this stomach of mine.The next morning, the evangelizing Gantry leads the crowd in the singing of a gospel spiritual-song: ("I""m on my way, up to Canaan land").