Part 24 (1/2)

”But it caht,” went on To Bird, and started back”

”Had most of the folks left town?” asked the foreman

”Nearly all,” replied To away as I left And it sho scared they were, they didn't pay any attention to er some of them never saw one before”

”Well, they don't need to be scared any more,” put in Mr Damon ”You saved their hoet hold of the felloho dopedinventor ”Ned, we'll have to be doubly watchful froe iant cannon was as perfect as the day it was turned out of the shop Not even the extra charge of the powerful explosive had injured it

”That's fine!” cried Tom, as he looked at every part ”As soon as this flood is over we'll try some more practice shots But we're all entitled to a rest now”

The great gun was covered with tarpaulins to protect it from the weather, and then all retired to the house for a bountiful ns of the flood had disappeared, save that along the edges of the creek was ht to which the creek had risen But it would have gone her had it not been for Tom's timely shot

The water from the impounded lake continued to pour down into the cross valley, and did so like ould have followed its advent into Preston The few inhabitants of the gulch into which the young inventor had directed the flood had had warning, and had fled in time In Preston, so creek were flooded, but were not carried away

The following day some of the officers of the water company paid a visit to Tom, to thank him for what he had done But for hie, and loss of life ht have followed

They intended to rebuild the daer

”And,” said the president, ”ill have an eate into that valley you so providentially opened for us, Mr Swift Then, in tireat rain, we can let the water out slowly as we need to”

Toun to the notice of the United States Governive it a test before the ordnance board, and before the officers of the arly he prepared for this

He ordered several new projectiles, so Koku and Ned in charge of the gun, went back to Shopton to superintend the manufacture of an additional supply of his explosive He took care, too, that no spies gained access to it

Then, with a plentiful supply of ammunition and projectiles, Tom resumed his practice in the lonely valley He had, in the overnment officials to come and witness the tests

At first he met with no success, and he learned, incidentally, that General Waller had built a new gun, the merits of which he was also anxious to show

”It's a sort of rivalry between us,” said Tom to Ned

But, in a way, fortune favored our hero For when General Waller tested his new gun, though it did not burst, it did not coreat as some of the weapons already in use

Then, too, Captain Badger acted as Toe, and at last the government sent word that one of the ordnance officers would be present on a certain day to witness the tests

”I wish the whole board had co fellow, just out of West Point, ill turn ive him the surprise of his life; and if he doesn't report favorably, and insist on the whole board co out here, I'll be much disappointed”

Tom made his preparations carefully, and certainly Captain Waydell, the young officer who came to represent Uncle Sam, was ied, against the side of the ashes were torn in the earth The gun even exceeded the range of thirty miles And the heaviest armor plate that could be procured was to the projectiles of the giant cannon like cheese to a revolver bullet

”It's great, Mr Swift! Great!” declared the young captain ”I shall strongly recommend that the entire board see this test” And when To ood as his word, and a week later the entire ordnance board, frorizzled veterans, were present to witness the test of Toiant cannon