Through powerful glasses Tom and Ned surveyed the distant mountain that was to be the target. Several great squares of white cloth had been put at different bare spots to make the finding of the range easy.
"I guess we're ready now," announced the young inventor, a bit nervously. "Bring up the powder, Koku."
"Me bring," exclaimed the giant, calmly, as he went to the bomb-proof where the powerful explosive was kept.
The great projectile was in readiness to be slung into the breech by means of the hoisting apparatus, for it weighed close to two tons. It was carefully inserted under Tom's supervision. It carried no bursting charge, for Tom's first shot was merely to establish the extreme range that his cannon would shoot.
"Now the powder," called the young inventor. To avoid accidents Koku handled this himself, the hoisting apparatus being dispensed with. Tom figured out that five hundred pounds of his new, powerful explosive would be about the right amount to use, and this quantity, divided into several packages to make the handling easier, was quickly inserted in the breech of the gun by Koku.
"Bless my doormat!" cried Mr. Damon, who stood near, looking nervously on. "Don't drop any of that."
"Me no drop," was the answer.
Tom was busily engaged in figuring on a bit of paper, and Ned, who looked over his shoulder, saw a complicated compilation that looked to be a combination of geometry, algebra, differential calculus and other higher mathematics.
"What are you doing, Tom?" he asked.
"I'm trying to confirm my own theories by means of figures, to see if I can really reach that farthest target."