"Bless my
suspenders, no! But I promised my wife I'd be back this evening,
and . . . "
"We'll sail over toward Waterford," broke in Tom, "and I'll
drop you down in your front yard."
"No, don't do that! Don't! I beg of you!" cried Mr. Damon. "You
see--er--Tom, my wife doesn't like me to make these trips. Of
course, I understand there is no danger, and I like them. But
it's just as well not to make her worry-you understand!"
"Oh, all right," replied Tom, with a laugh. "Well, we're not
going far on this trip. What I want to do, most of all, is to
test the guns, and see if the recoil check will work as well when
we are aloft as it did down on the ground. You know a balloon
isn't a very stable base for a gun, even one of light caliber."
"No, it certainly is not," agreed Lieutenant Marbury, "and I am
interested in seeing how you will overcome the recoil."
"We'll have a test soon," announced Tom.
Meanwhile the Mars, having reached a considerable height, being
up so far, in fact, that the village of Shopton could scarcely be
distinguished, Tom set the signal that told the engine-room force
to start the propellers. This would send them ahead.
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