Part 18 (1/2)

Then Toer examined it for superficial flaws

”Not one!” cried the ht

”Not that I can see,” added Tom ”It's a success--so far”

”And that was the hardest part of the work,” went on the uarantee you success fro was concerned, this was true I will not weary you with the details of how the great core of Toiant cannon was bored Sufficient to say that, after so delays, caused by breaks in the antic piece of work, the rifling was done After the jackets had been shrunk on, it would be rifled again, to e

Then careat red-hot steel jackets and indings, that would add strength to the great cannon To do this the central core was set up on end, and the jackets, having been heated in an ireat crane over the core, and lowered on it as one would lower his napkin ring over the rolled up napkin

It took weeks of hard work to do this, and Tom and Ned, with Mr Damon occasionally for company, remained almost constantly at the plant But finally the cannon was coain to correct any ier said:

”Your cannon is coratulate you on it

Never have we done such a stupendous piece of work Only for your plans we could not have finished it It was too big a problem for us Your cannon is completed, but, of course, it will have to be e?”

”I have plans for that,” replied To to put it on a teht, but whether it will shoot accurately, and for a greater distance than any cannon has ever sent a projectile before, is yet to be seen”

”Where will you test it?”

”That is e must decide I don't want to take it too far from here Perhaps you can select a place where it would be safe to fire it, say with a range of about thirty miles”

”Thirty ether sure that it will go that distance,”

interrupted To to try for it, and I want to be on the safe side Is there such a place near here?”

”Yes, I guess we can pick one out I'll let you know”

”Then I e forinventor ”We'll soon test iant cannon!”

”Blessbursts For if that goes up, To it to burst,” put in Tom, with a set ready for the test”

CHAPTER XVI

A WARNING

”Whe it rains!” exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the

”And it doesn't see up,” remarked Tom

”It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer”

”It's beastly,” declared his chuun in this weather?”