"What is it!" cried Ned.

"The government accepts my gun!" exclaimed the young inventor. "It
will purchase a number as soon as they can be made. We are to take one
to Panama, where it will be set up. Hurray, Ned, my boy! Now for
Panama!"

CHAPTER XXI

OFF FOR PANAMA

"Well, Tom, it doesn't seem possible; does it, old man?"

"You're right, Ned--in a way. And yet, after all the hard work we've
done, almost anything is possible."

"Hard work! We? Oh, pshaw! You've done most of it, Tom. I only helped
here and there."

"Indeed, and you did more than that. If it hadn't been for you, Mr.
Damon and Koku we'd never have gotten off as soon as we did. The
government is the limit for doing things, sometimes."

"Bless my timetable! but I agree with you," put in Mr. Damon. "But at
last we are on the way, in spite of delays."

This conversation took place on board one of Uncle Sam's warships,
which the President had designated to take Tom's giant cannon to the
Panama Canal.

The big gun had been lashed to the deck of the vessel, and was well
protected from the weather. In the hold the parts of the disappearing
carriage, which Tom had at last succeeded in having made, were securely
stowed. In another part of the warship were the big projectiles, some
arranged to be fired as solid shots, and others with a bursting charge.
There was also a good supply of the powerful explosive, and Tom had
taken extraordinary precautions so that it could not be tampered with.
Koku had been detailed as a sort of guard over it, and to relieve him
was a trustworthy sergeant of marines.

"If anyone tries to dope that powder now, and spoil my test at Panama,"
declared Tom, "he'll wish he'd never tried it."

"Especially if Koku gets hold of him," added Ned, grimly.

"But I don't believe there is any danger," went on the young inventor.
"I spoke about what had happened, and the ordnance board took extra
precautions to see that none but men and officers who could be
implicitly trusted had anything to do with this expedition."

"You don't really believe anything like treachery would be attempted;
do you, Tom?"

"I don't know what to say. Certainly I can't see why anyone connected
with Uncle Sam would want to throw cold water on a plan to fortify the
canal, even if an outsider has invented the gun--I mean someone like
myself, not connected with the army or navy."

"If it's anything it's jealousy," declared Ned, "That General Wal