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 the point where the two valleys come together.I'll break down the barrier of rock and stone between them.""Bless my shovel and hoe!" cried Mr.Damon.
"If we can turn enough of the water into the other valley, where no one lives, and where it can escape into the big river there, the amount that will flow down this valley will be so small that only a little damage will be done.""That's right!" declared the steel foreman, as he caught Tom's idea."It's the only way it could be done, too, for there won't be time to make the necessary excavation any other way.Is the gun swung around far enough, Mr.Swift?""No, a little more toward me," answered Tom, as he peered through the telescope sights."There, that will do.Now to get the proper elevation," and he began to work the other apparatus, having estimated the range as well as he could.
In a few seconds the giant cannon was properly trained on the white rock.Meanwhile the horseman, with his red flag, had continued on down the valley.In spite of his warning of the night before, it developed that a number had disregarded it, and had remained in their homes.Most of the inhabitants, however, had fled to the hills, to stay in tents, or with such neighbors as could accommodate them.Some lingered to move theirhousehold goods, while others fled with what they could carry.
It was to see that the town was deserted by these late-stayers that the messenger rode, crying his warning as did the messenger at the bursting of the Johnstown dam twenty-odd years ago.
"The projectile!" cried Tom, as he saw that all was in readiness."Lively now! I can see the top of the dam beginning to crumble," and he laid aside the telescope he had been using.
The projectile, with a heavy charge of bursting powder, was slung into the breech of the gun.
"Now the powder, Koku!" called Tom."Be quick; but not so fast that you drop any of it.""Me fetch," responded the giant, as he hastened toward the small cave where the explosive was kept.As the big man brought the first lot, and Ned was about to insert it in the breech of the gun, behind the projectile, Tom exclaimed:
"Just let me have a look at that.It's some that I first made, and I want to be sure it hasn't gone stale."Critically he looked at the powerful explosive.As he did so a change came over his face.
"Here, Koku!" the young inventor said."Where did you get this?" "In cave, Master.""Is there any more left?"
"Only enough for this one shoot."
"By Jove!" muttered Tom."There's been some trick played here!" and he set off on a run toward the bomb-proof.
"What's the matter?" cried Ned, as he noticed the agitation of his chum.
