to Sandy Hook. I've had
trouble enough to get this permit--I guess I'll put it where it won't
get lost," and he locked it in a secret drawer of his desk.

Then the lads stored the powder in a safe place, and soon were busy
about several matters in the shop.

CHAPTER V

OFF TO SANDY HOOK

"What's the idea of this government test of the big gun, Tom?" asked
Ned. "I got so excited about that near-explosion the other day, that I
didn't think to ask you all the particulars."

"Why, the idea is to see if the gun will work, and do all that the
inventor claims for it," was the answer. "They always put a new gun
through more severe tests than anything it will be called on to stand
in actual warfare. They want to see just how much margin of safety
there is."

"Oh I see. And is this one of the guns that are to be used in
fortifying the Panama Canal?"

"Well, Ned, I don't know, exactly. You see, the government isn't
telling all its secrets. I assume that it is, and that's why I'm
anxious to see what sort of a gun it is.

"As a matter of fact, I'm going into this thing on a sort of chance,
just as dad did when he invested in Mr. Peterson's opal mine."

"Do you think anything will come of that, Tom?"

"I don't know. If we get down to Panama, after I have made my big gun,
we may take a run over, and see how he is making out. But, as I said,
I'm going into this big cannon business on a sort of gamble. I have
heard, indirectly, that Uncle Sam intends to use a new type of gun in
fortifying the Panama Canal. It's about forty-nine miles long, you
know, and it will take many guns to cover the whole route, as well as
to protect the two entrances."

"Not so very many if you make a gun that will shoot thirty miles,"
remarked Ned, with a smile.

"I'm not so sure I can do it," went on Tom. "But, even at that, quite a
number of guns will be needed. For if any foreign nation, or any
combination of nations, intend to get the canal away from us, they
won't make the attack from one point. They'll come at us seven
different ways for Sunday, and I've never heard yet of a gun that can
shoot seven ways at once. That's why so many will be needed.

"But, as I said, I don't know just what type the Ordnance Department
will favor, and I want to get a line. Then, even if I invent a cannon
that will outshoot all the others, they may not take mine. Though if
they do, and buy a number of them, I'll be more than repaid for my
labor, be