"What, not the one thirty miles away.
"That's it, Ned. I want to get a thirty-mile range if I can."
"It isn't possible, Tom."
"Bless my tape measure! I should say not!" cried Mr. Damon.
"We'll see," replied Tom, quietly. "Put in the primer, Ned; and, Koku, close the breech and slot it home."
In a few seconds the great gun was ready for firing.
"Now," said Tom, "this thing may be all right, and it may not. The only thing that can cause an accident will be a flaw in the steel. No one can guard against that. So, in order to be on the safe side, we will all go into the bomb-proof, and I will fire the gun from there. The wires are long enough."
They all agreed that this was good advice, and soon the steel men and Tom's friends were gathered in a sort of cave that had been hollowed out in the side of the hill, and at an angle from the big gun.
"If it does burst—which I hope it won't," said Tom, "the pieces will fly in straight lines, so we will be safe enough here. Ned, are you are ready at the instruments?"
"Yes, Tom."