Part 8 (1/2)
”Nothing much, Admiral,” answered our hero
”Oh, yes, you have!” returned Admiral Woodburn, head of the naval forces of Uncle Saot some idea in your head, or you wouldn't coun Well, if you can invent anything as good for coast defense, or even interior defense, as your sub hat you have done in the past I congratulate you, General Waller, on having Toive you the benefit of some of his ideas”
”I--I haven't had the pleasure of un inventor, stiffly ”I did not recognize his naned his pass”
It was plain that the greeting of To sentier sun inventor now regarded the lad
”Well, if Toun, you want to adopt the about subs, too; didn't you, Tom?”
”Oh, it was just a simple matter, Admiral,” said Tom, modestly ”Just that little point about the intake valves and the ballast tanks”
”But they changed the whole ives you any”
”I don't know that I will need any--as yet,” replied General Waller ”I aun will be a success as it is at present constructed
Later, however, if I should decide to ladly avail myself of Mr Swift's counsel,” and he bowed stiffly to Tom ”We will now proceed with the test,” he went on ”Kindly send a wireless to the patrol shi+ps that we are about to fire, and ask theood, sir,” spoke the officer in ie of the matter, as he saluted Soon from the aerials snapped the vicious sparks that told of the wireless telegraph being worked
I ht explain that near the spot where the projectile was expected to fall into the sea--about fifteen miles from Sandy Hook--several war vessels were stationed to warn shi+pping to give the place a wide berth
This was easy, since the big gun had been ai the rifle in a certain direction, and giving it a definite angle of inclination, made it practically certain just where the shot would fall This is called ”getting the range,” and while, of course, the exact liun was not known, it had been co ready now?” asked General Waller, while Toer and Ad part in the conversation from time to time
”All ready, sir,” was the assurance The inventor was plainly nervous as the crucial moment of the test approached He went here and there upon the barbette, testing the various levers and gear wheels of the gun
The projectile and powder had been put in, the breech-block screwed into place, the primer had been inserted, and all that remained was to press the button that would e This act of firing the gun had been intrusted to one of the soldiers, for General Waller and his brother officers were to retire to a bomb-proof, whence they would watch the effect of the fire, and note the course of the projectile
”It see to fire the gun is in the er”
”He would be--if it exploded,” spoke Toues,toward the shelter ”But I think there is little danger
”You see, the electric wires are long enough to enable hiun And, if he likes, he can crouch behind that concrete wall of the next barbette Still, there is some chance of an accident, for, nocharge of powder, and how strongly you construct the breech-block to stand the strain, there is always the possibility of a flaw in the o to the bo for the same place”
”I suppose,” remarked Ned, ”that in actual warfare anyone who fired one of the big guns would have to stand close to it--closer than that soldier is now”
”Oh, yes-- the last instructions to the private as to press the button ”Only, of course, in war the guns will have been tested, and this one has not
Here he co”
General Waller, having assured hiiven the last word to the private and was now athered his fellow-officers and friends
”You had better retire froun,” said its inventor to Tom and Ned, as he passed them ”For, while I have absolute confidence in my cannon, and I know that it is impossible to burst it, the concussion e”
”Thank you,” said Toet in a safe place”
He could not refrain froeneral's manner nohat it had been at first