"It isn't just what I want," Tom decided, after he had put small quantities in little steel bombs, and exploded them, at a safe distance, and under a bank of earth, by means of an electric primer.
"Why, Tom, that powder certainly burst the bombs all to pieces," said Ned, picking up a shattered piece of steel.
"I know, but it isn't powerful enough for me.I'm going to send for samples of another kind, and if I can't get what I want I'll make my own powder.But come on now, this stuff gives me a headache.Let's take a little flight in the Humming Bird.We'll go see Mr.Damon," and soon the two lads were in the speedy little monoplane, skimming along like the birds.The fresh air soon blew away their headaches, caused by the fumes from the nitro-glycerine, which was the basis of the powder.Dynamite will often produce a headache in those who work with it.
Two days later Tom and Ned set off for Sandy Hook.
This long, neck-like strip of land on the New Jersey coast is, as most of you know, one of the principal defenses of our country.
Foreign vessels that steam into New York harbor first have to pass the line of terrible guns that, back of the earth and concrete defenses, look frowningly out to sea.It is a wonderful place.
On the Sandy Hook Bay side of the Hook there is a life-saving station.Right across, on the sea side, are the big guns.Between are the barracks where the soldiers live, and part of the land is given over to a proving ground, where many of the big guns are taken to be tested.
Tom and Ned reached New York City without incident of moment, and, after a night spent at a hotel, they went to the Battery, whence the small government steamer leaves every day for Sandy Hook.It is a trip of twenty-one miles, and as the bay was rather rough that day, Tom and Ned had a taste of a real sea voyage.But they were too experienced travelers tomind that, though some other visitors were made quite ill.
A landing was made on the bay side of the Hook, it being too rough to permit of a dock being constructed on the ocean side.
"Now we'll see what luck we have," spoke Tom, as he and Ned, inquiring the way to the proving grounds from a soldier on duty, started for them.On the way they passed some of the fortifications.
"Look at that gun!" exclaimed Ned, pointing to a big cannon which seemed to be crouched down in a sort of concrete pit."How can they fire that, Tom? The muzzle points directly at the stone wall.Does the wall open when they want to fire?"No, the gun raises up, peeps over the wall, so speak, shoots out its projectile, and then crouches down again.""Oh, you mean a disappearing gun."
"That's it, Ned.See, it works by compressed air," and Tom showed his chum how, when the gun was loaded, the projectile in place, and the breech-block screwed fast, the officer in charge of the firing squad would, on getting the range from the soldier detailed to calculate it, make the necessary adjustments, and pull the lever.
The compressed air would fill the cylinders, forcing the gun to rise on toggle-jointed arms, so that the muzzle was above the bomb-proof wall.Then it would be fired, and sink back again, out of sight of the enemy.
The boys looked at several different types of big rifled cannon, and then passed on.They could hear firing in the distance, some of the explosions shaking the ground.
"They're making some tests now," said Tom, hurrying forward.
Ned followed until, passing a sort of machine shop, the lads came to where a sentry paced up and down a concrete walk.
"Are these the proving grounds?" asked Tom."This is the entrance to them," replied the soldier, bringing his rifle to "port," according to the regulations."What do you want?""To go in and watch the gun tests," replied Tom."I have a permit," and he held it out so the soldier could see it.
"That permit is no good here;" the sentry exclaimed."No good?" faltered Tom.
"No, it has to be countersigned by General Wailer.And, as he's on the proving grounds now, you can't see him.He's getting ready for the test of his new cannon.""But that's just what we want to see!" cried Tom."We want to get in there purposely for that.Can't you send word to General Wailer?""I can't leave my post," replied the sentry, shortly."You'll have to come another time, when the General isn't busy.You can't get in unless he countersigns that permit.""Then it may be too late to witness the test," objected the young inventor."Isn't there some way I can get word to him?""I don't think so," replied the sentry."And I'll have to ask you to leave this vicinity.No strangers are allowed on the proving grounds without a proper pass."
