THE IMPOSSIBLE OCCURS
There were murmurs throughout the throng about the big gun, as the officer approached Tom Swift and shook hands with him.
"What have you in mind now, Tom, that you come to Sandy Hook?" the much-medaled officer asked.
"Nothing much, Admiral," answered our hero.
"Oh, yes, you have!" returned Admiral Woodburn, head of the naval forces of Uncle Sam."You've got some idea in your head, or you wouldn't come to see this test of my friend's gun.Well, if you can invent anything as good for coast defense, or even interior defense, as your submarines, it will be in keeping with what you have done in the past.I congratulate you, General Waller, on having Tom Swift here to give you the benefit of some of his ideas.""I--I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr.Swift before," said the gun inventor, stiffly."I did not recognize his name when I countersigned his pass."It was plain that the greeting of Tom by Admiral Woodburn had had a marked effect in changing sentiment toward our hero.Captain Badger smiled as he noticed with what different eyes the gun inventor now regarded the lad.
"Well, if Tom Swift gives you any points about your gun, you want to adopt them," went on the Admiral."I thought I knew something about submarines, but Tom taught me some things, too; didn't you, Tom?""Oh, it was just a simple matter, Admiral," said Tom, modestly."Just that little point about the intake valves and the ballast tanks.""But they changed the whole matter.Yes, General, you take Tom's advice--if he gives you any.""I don't know that I will need any--as yet," replied General Waller."I am confident my gun will be a success as it is at present constructed.Later, however, if I should decide to make any changes, I will gladly avail myself of Mr.Swift's counsel," and he bowed stiffly to Tom."We will nowproceed with the test," he went on."Kindly send a wireless to the patrol ships that we are about to fire, and ask them to note carefully where the projectile falls.""Very good, sir," spoke the officer in immediate charge of the matter, as he saluted.Soon from the aerials snapped the vicious sparks that told of the wireless telegraph being worked.
I might explain that near the spot where the projectile was expected to fall into the sea--about fifteen miles from Sandy Hook--several war vessels were stationed to warn shipping to give the place a wide berth.This was easy, since the big gun had been aimed at a spot outside of the steamship lanes.Aiming the rifle in a certain direction, and giving it a definite angle of inclination, made it practically certain just where the shot would fall.This is called "getting the range," and while, of course, the exact limit of fire of the new gun was not known, it had been computed as nearly as possible.
"Is everything ready now?" asked General Waller, while Tom was conversing with his friends, Captain Badger and Admiral Woodburn, Ned taking part in the conversation from time to time.
"All ready, sir," was the assurance.The inventor was plainly nervous as the crucial moment of the test approached.He went here and there upon the barbette, testing the various levers and gear wheels of the gun.
The projectile and powder had been put in, the breech-block screwed into place, the primer had been inserted, and all that remained was to press the button that would make the electrical connection, and explode the charge.This act of firing the gun had been intrusted to one of the soldiers, for General Waller and his brother officers were to retire to a bomb-proof, whence they would watch the effect of the fire, and note the course of the projectile.
"It seems to me," remarked Ned, "that the soldier who is going to fire the gun is in the most danger.""He would be--if it exploded," spoke Tom, for his officer friends had joined their colleagues, most of whom were now walking toward the shelter."But I think there is little danger.
