t and his giant cannon(汤姆·史威夫特和他的巨形炮)-第9部分
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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 beif 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。
〃You see; the electric wires are long enough to enable him to stand
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some distance from the gun。 And; if he likes; he can crouch behind that
concrete wall of the next barbette。 Still; there is some chance of an
accident; for; no matter how carefully you calculate the strain of a bursting
charge of powder; and how strongly you construct the breech…block to
stand the strain; there is always the possibility of a flaw in the metal。 So;
Ned; I think we'll just go to the bomb 膒 roof ourselves; when we see
General Waller making for the same place。〃
〃I suppose;〃 remarked Ned; 〃that in actual warfare anyone who fired
one of the big guns would have to stand close to itcloser than that soldier
is now。〃
〃Oh; yesmuch;〃 replied Tom; as he watched General Waller giving
the last instructions to the private who was to press the button。 〃Only; of
course; in war the guns will have been tested; and this one has not。 Here he
comes; I guess we'd better be moving。〃
General Waller; having assured himself that everything was as right as
possible; had given the last word to the private and was now making his
way toward the bomb…proof; within which were gathered his fellow…
officers and friends。
〃You had better retire from the immediate vicinity of the gun;〃 said its
inventor to Tom and Ned; as he passed them。 〃For; while I have absolute
confidence in my cannon; and I know that it is impossible to burst it; the
concussion may be unpleasant at such close range。〃
〃Thank you;〃 said Tom。 〃We are going to get in a safe place。〃
He could not refrain from contrasting the general's manner now with
what it had been at first。
As for Ned; he could not help wondering why; if the inventor had such
absolute faith in his weapon; he did not fire it himself; even at the risk of a
〃concussion。〃
How it happened was never accurately known; as the soldier declared
positivelyafter he came out of the hospitalthat he had not pressed the
button。 The theory was that the wires had become crossed; making a short
circuit; which caused the gun to go off prematurely。
But suddenly; while Tom; Ned and General Waller were still some
distance away from the bomb…proof; there was a terrific explosion。 It
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seemed as if the very foundations of the fortifications would be shattered
There was a roaring in the air a hot burst of flame; and instantly such a
vacuum was created that Tom and Ned found themselves gasping for
breath。
Dazed; shaken in every bone; with their muscles sore; they picked
themselves up from the ground; along which they had been blown with
great force in the direction of the bomb…proof。 Even as Tom struggled to
his feet; intending to run to safety in fear of other explosions; he realized
what had happened。
〃Whatwhat was it?〃 cried Ned; as he; too; arose。
〃The gun burst!〃 yelled Tom。
He looked to the left and saw General Waller picking himself up; his
uniform torn; and blood streaming from a cut on his face。 At the same
instant Tom was aware of the body of a man flying through the air toward
a distant grass plot; and the young inventor recognized it as that of the
soldier who had been detailed to fire the great cannon。
Almost instantaneously as everything happened; Tom was aware of
noticing several things; as though they took place in sequence。 He looked
toward where the gun had stood。 It was in ruins。 The young inventor saw
something; which he took to be the projectile; skimming across the sea
waves; and he had a fleeting glimpse of the greater portion of the immense
weapon itself sinking into the depths of the ocean。
Then; coming down from a great height in the air; he saw a dark object。
It was another piece of the cannon that had been hurled skyward。
〃Look out!〃 Tom yelled; instinctively; as he staggered toward the
bomb…proof; Ned following。
He saw a number of officers running out to assist General Waller; who
seemed too dazed to move。 Many of them had torn uniforms; and not a
few were bleeding from their injuries。 Then the air seemed filled with a
rain of small missiles 膕 tones; dirt; gravel and pieces of metal。
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CHAPTER VIII
A BIG PROBLEM
〃Are you much hurt; Ned?〃
Tom Swift bent anxiously over the prostrate form of his chum。 A big
piece of the burst gun had fallen close to Nedso close; in fact; that Tom;
who saw it as he neared the entrance to the bomb… proof; shuddered as he
raced back。 But there was no sign of injury on his chum。
〃Are you much hurt; Ned?〃
The lad's eyes opened。 He seemed dazed。
〃Nono; I guess not;〃 he answered; slowly。 〃II guess I'm as much
scared as hurt; Tom。 It was the wind from that big piece that knocked me
down。 It didn't actually hit me。〃
〃No; I should say not;〃 put in Captain Badger; who had run out toward
the two lads。 〃If it had hit you there wouldn't have been much of you left
to tell the tale;〃 and he nodded toward the big piece of metal Tom had seen
coming down from the sky。 That part of the cannon forming a portion of
the breech had buried itself deep in the earth。 It had landed close to Ned
so close that; as he said; the wind of it; as well as the concussion; perhaps;
had thrown him with enough force to send the breath from him。
〃Glad to hear that; old man!〃 exclaimed Tom; with a sigh of relief。 〃If
you'd been hurt I should have blamed myself。〃
〃That would have been foolish。 I took the same chance that you did;〃
answered Ned; as he arose; and limped off between the captain and Tom。
A great silence seemed to have followed the terrific report。 And now
the officers and soldiers began to recover from the stupor into which the
accident had thrown them。 Sentries began pouring into the proving
grounds from other portions of the barracks; and an ambulance call was
sent in。
General Waller's comrades had hurried out to him; and were now
leading him away。 He did not seem to be much hurt; though; like many
others; he had received numerous cuts and scratches from bits of stone and
gravel scattered by the explosion; as well as from small bits of metal that
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were thrown in all directions。
〃Are you hurt; General?〃 asked Admiral Woodburn; as he put his arm
about the shoulder of the inventor。
〃Nothat is to say; I don't think so。 But what happened? Did they fire
some other gun in our direction by mistake?〃
For a moment they all hesitated。 Then the Admiral said; gently:
〃No; General。 It was your own gunit burst。〃
〃My gun! My gun burst?〃
〃That was it。 Fortunately; no one was killed。〃
〃My gun burst! How could that happen? I drew every plan for that gun
myself。 I made every allowance。 I tell you it was impossible for it to
burst!〃
〃But it did burst; General;〃 went on the Admiral。 〃You can see for
yourself;〃 and he turned around and waved his hand toward the barbette
where the gun had been mounted。 All that remained of it now was part of
the temporary carriage; and a small under…portion of the muzzle。 The
entire breech; with the great block; had been blown into fragments; so
powerful was the powder used。 The projectile one watcher reported; had
gone about three hundred yards over the top of the barbette and then
dropped into the sea; ve