"All ready up there?" he called to his helper perched high in the air.
"All ready!" came back the answer above the roar and crackle of the flames that made Tom and Ned step back.
Would success or failure attend the young inventor's project?
CHAPTER XI
THE BLAZING TREE
Tom Swift hesitated a moment before giving the final word that would send the metal container of powerful chemicals down into the midst of the crackling flames. He wanted to make sure, in his own mind, that he had done everything possible to insure the success of his undertaking. The young inventor never attempted the solution of any problem without going into it with his whole energy. So he wanted this experiment to succeed.
He quickly reviewed, mentally, the composition of the chemical compound. He had made it as strong as possible, and he had spared no pains to insure a hot fire, so that the test would not be too simple.
"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned, as his chum appeared to hesitate about giving the word that would send the chemicals hurtling down into the fire.
"Nothing. I was just making sure I hadn't forgotten anything," Tom answered. "I guess I haven't."