"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, and, at the same
moment, from down below on the ground, came a warning cry:
"Don't shoot, Massa Tom. Don't shoot! Mah mule, Boomerang--"
But Eradicate had spoken too late. Tom pressed the switch;
there was a deafening crash, a spurt of flame, and then followed
wild cries and confused shouts, while the echoes of the reports
rolled about the hills surrounding Shopton.
CHAPTER X
THE NEW MEN
"What was the matter down there?"
"Was anyone hurt?"
"Don't forget to look at those pressure gauges!"
"Bless my ham sandwich!"
Thus came the cries from those aboard the captive Mars. Ned,
Lieutenant Marbury and Tom had called out in the order named.
And, of course, I do not need to tell you what remark Mr. Damon
made. Tom glanced toward where Ned and the government man stood,
and saw that they had made notes of the pressure recorded on the
recoil checks directly after the guns were fired. Mr. Damon,
blessing innumerable objects under his breath, was looking over
the side of the rail to discover the cause of the commotion and
cries of warning from below.
"I don't believe it was anything serious, Tom," said the odd
man.
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