Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon, page 89 by Victor Appleton
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he said, after a rest, during which some records were made. "Then we'll call it a day's work. Koku, bring up some more powder. I'll use a little heavier charge this time."
It was while the gun was being loaded that a horseman was seen riding wildly down the valley. He was waving a red flag in his hand.
"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?"
"It looks as though he was coming to give us a warning," suggested the steel foreman.
"Maybe someone has kicked about our shooting," remarked Ned.
"I hope not," murmured Tom.
He looked at the horseman anxiously. The rider came nearer and nearer, wildly waving his flag. He seemed to be shouting something, but his words could not be made out. Finally he came near enough to be heard.
"The dam! The dam!" he cried. "It's bursting. Your shots have hastened it. The cracks are widening. You'd better get away!" And he galloped on.
"Bless my toilet soap!" gasped Mr. Damon.
"I was afraid of this!" murmured Tom. "But, since our shots have hastened the disaster, maybe we can avert it."
"How?" demanded Ned.
"I'll show you. All hands come here and we'll shift this gun. I want it to point at that big white stone!" and he indicated an immense boulder, well up the valley, near the place where the two great gulches joined.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE DOPED POWDER
"What are you going to do, Tom?" cried Ned, as he, with the others, worked the hand gear that shifted the big gun. When it was permanently mounted electricity would accomplish this work. "What's your game, Tom?"
"Don't you remember, Ned? When we were talking about the chance of the dam bursting, I said if the current of suddenly released water could be turned into the other valley, the people below us would be saved."
"Yes."
"Well, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to fire a bursting shell at