Part 6 (1/2)
This long, neck-like strip of land on the New Jersey coast is, as most of you know, one of the principal defenses of our country
Foreign vessels that steam into New York harbor first have to pass the line of terrible guns that, back of the earth and concrete defenses, look frowningly out to sea It is a wonderful place
On the Sandy Hook Bay side of the Hook there is a life-saving station
Right across, on the sea side, are the big guns Between are the barracks where the soldiers live, and part of the land is given over to a proving ground, where uns are taken to be tested
Tom and Ned reached New York City without incident of ht spent at a hotel, they went to the Battery, whence the sovernment steamer leaves every day for Sandy Hook It is a trip of twenty-one h that day, Toe But they were too experienced travelers to h so was h to per constructed on the ocean side
”Noe'll see what luck we have,” spoke Torounds from a soldier on duty, started for them On the way they passed soun!” exclai cannon which seemed to be crouched down in a sort of concrete pit ”How can they fire that, Tom? The muzzle points directly at the stone wall Does the wall open when they want to fire?”
”No, the gun raises up, peeps over the wall, so speak, shoots out its projectile, and then crouches down again”
”Oh, you un”
”That's it, Ned See, it works by coun was loaded, the projectile in place, and the breech-block screwed fast, the officer in charge of the firing squad would, on getting the range from the soldier detailed to calculate it, make the necessary adjustments, and pull the lever
The coun to rise on toggle-jointed arms, so that the muzzle was above the boain, out of sight of the ene rifled cannon, and then passed on They could hear firing in the distance, so so forward
Ned followed until, passing a sort of machine shop, the lads came to where a sentry paced up and down a concrete walk
”Are these the proving grounds?” asked Toing his rifle to ”port,” according to the regulations ”What do you want?”
”To go in and watch the gun tests,” replied Tom ”I have a permit,” and he held it out so the soldier could see it
”That perood?” faltered Toned by General Waller And, as he's on the proving grounds now, you can't see hi ready for the test of his new cannon”
”But that's just ant to see!” cried Toet in there purposely for that Can't you send word to General Waller?”
”I can't leave my post,” replied the sentry, shortly ”You'll have to coet in unless he countersigns that permit”
”Then itinventor ”Isn't there soet word to him?”
”I don't think so,” replied the sentry ”And I'll have to ask you to leave this vicinity No strangers are allowed on the proving grounds without a proper pass”
CHAPTER VI
TESTING THE WALLER GUN