It was working perfectly now, as Tom could tell by
the thundering blows it struck. The man operating it looked up
as Tom approached, and, at a gesture from the young inventor,
shut off the power.
"Been having trouble here?" asked Tom, noting that the workman
was one of the new hands he had hired.
"Yes, sir, a little," was the respectful answer. "This hammer
goes on a strike every now and then, and gets jammed. Your giant
there forced it back into place, which is more than I could do
with a big bar for a lever. He sure has some muscle."
"Yes," agreed Tom, "he's pretty strong. But what's this you
said about wanting to give up this job, and go on the airship
construction."
The man turned red under his coat of grime.
"I didn't intend him to repeat that to you, Mr. Swift," he
said. "I was a little put out at the way this hammer worked. I
lose so much time at it that I said I'd like to be transferred to
the airship department. I've worked in one before But I'm not
making a kick," he added quickly. "Work is too scarce for that."
"I understand," said Tom. "I have been thinking of making a
change. Koku seems to like this hammer, and knows how to get it
in order once it gets off the guides.
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