Part 30 (1/2)
They raced outside to behold a curious sight Straight toward von Brunderger rushed thein German to his master, and the latter's face went first red, then white He was observed to look about quickly, as though in alarm, and then, with a shout at his servant, the German officer rushed from the stand, and the two disappeared in the direction of the barracks
”What does it mean?” cried Ned
”Give it up,” answered Tom, ”except that Koku spoiled their trick, whatever it was It looks as if this was the end of it, and that the mystery has been cleared up”
”Mr Swift! Where's Mr Swift?” shouted the wireless operator ”Where are you?”
”Yes; what is it?” de
”The longest shot on record!” cried the man ”Thirty-three miles, and it struck, exploded, and blew the top off a mountain on an island out there!” and he pointed across the sun-lit sea
CHAPTER XXV
THE LONG-LOST MINE
There was a silence after the inspiring words of the operator, and then it see shot, the effect of it and the struggle that had taken place in the powder rooer and his servant, gave et at the bottoh the press of officials to where the wireless operator stood
”Just repeat that,” requested To for the answer
The operator read the ain
”Thirty-three miles!” murmured Tom ”That is better than I dared to hope But what's that about blowing the top off an island?”
”That's what you did, with that explosive shell, Mr Swift The operator on the firing-zone shi+p saw the top fly off when the shell struck The shi+p was about half athe officers thought it was all up with them But, instead, it passed over them and demolished the top of the mountain
”Anybody hurt?” asked Tom, anxiously
”No, it was an uninhabited island But you have ht It went farther than any of the others”
”Then I suppose I ought to be satisfied,” remarked Tom, with a smile
”What was that disturbance, Mr Swift?” asked the chief ordnance officer, co forward
”I don't understand itinventor ”It appeared that soiant servant, attacked hiht to do But as the intruder?”
”Herr von Brunderger's man”
”Ha! That German officer's! Where is he, he er was not to be found, nor was his man in evidence They had fled, and when a search wasevidence was found Before a board of investigating officers Koku told his story, after the gun tests had been declared off for the day, they having been most satisfactory
The Gerain entrance to the ammunition chamber by means of a false key to the outer door