I can tune it up more, and when I do,
and when I have it attached to all the guns, big and little, I
think we'll do the trick. But now for a harder test."
The rest of that day was spent in trying out the guns, firing
them with practice and service charges, though none of the shells
used contained projectiles. It would not have been possible to
shoot these, with the Mars held in place in the midst of Tom's
factory buildings.
"Well, is she a success, Tom?" asked Ned, when the
experimenting was over for the time being.
"I think I can say so--yes," was the answer, with a questioning
look at the officer.
"Indeed it is--a great success! We must give the Newton shock
absorber due credit."
Ned blushed with pleasure.
"It was only my suggestion," he said. "Tom worked it all out."
"But I needed the Suggestion to start with," the young inventor
replied.
"Of course something may develop when you take your craft high
in the air, and discharge the guns there," said the lieutenant.
"In a rarefied atmosphere the recoil check may not be as
effective as at the earth's surface. But, in such case doubtless,
you can increase the strength of the springs and the hydrostatic
valves.
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