Part 20 (1/2)
”What are you going to do, Toht here”
”But if the dam bursts?”
”It may not, but, if it does, we'll be safe I have had a look at the water, and there's no chance for it to rise here, even if the whole dam went out at once, which is not likely Don't worry We'll be all right”
”Bless my checkbook!” cried Mr Damon ”But what about those poor people in the valley?”
”They will have ti inventor; ”but they es, though Now don't do any et to bed, and be ready for the test to to have a little flight in the Huotten ht I don't want anything to happen to iant, significantly, as he picked up a heavy club
”Do you anticipate any trouble?” asked Ned, anxiously
”No, but it's best to be on the safe side,” answered Toht and sunshi+ny as it broke, had in it little of i-continued rains, and the whole valley seemed peaceful and quiet
At the far end could be seen the great da a small stream that trickled down the centre of the valley, and to the town below
But, through great pipes that led to the drinking systeh they were unseen, thundered iineers were able the pressure on the concrete wall
Toht out to the da a few finishi+ng touches to the gun carriage, ready for the test that was to take place about noon
”It doesn't look as though it would burst,” observed Ned, as the aircraft hovered over the big artificial lake
”No,” agreed Toineers want to be on the safe side in case of dae suits I want to take a look at the place where the other valley coles”
He steered his powerful little craft in that direction, and circled low over the spot
”A bursting projectile, about where that big white stone is, would do the trick,” murmured Touess I was talking to h ”Iin riddles today, all right, Toet ready to put et back, and fire our first long shot I do hope I make a record”
There was much to be done, in spite of the fact that the foreman of the steel workers assured Tom that all was in readiness It was soiven for those ished to retire to an improvised bomb-proof Word had previously been sent down the valley so that no one, unless he was looking for trouble, need be in the vicinity of the gun, nor near where the shots were to land
Through powerful glasses Tom and Ned surveyed the distant reat squares of white cloth had been put at different bare spots to uess we're ready now,” announced the young inventor, a bit nervously ”Bring up the powder, Koku”
”Me bring,” exclaiiant, calmly, as he went to the boreat projectile was in readiness to be slung into the breech by hed close to two tons It was carefully inserted under Toe, for Toe that his cannon would shoot