THE BURSTING DAM
it!"
"Bless my fountain pen!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."You don't mean"I sure do!" went on the man who had brought the startling news.
"And the folks down below aren't going to have any more time than they need to get out of the way.They'll have to lose some of their goods, I reckon.But I thought I'd stop on my way down and warn you.You'd better be getting a hustle on.""It's very kind of you," spoke Torn; "but I don't fancy we are in any danger." "No danger!" cried the man."Say, when that water begins to sweep-down here nothing on earth can stop it.That big gun of yours, heavy as it is, will be swept away like a straw, I know--I saw the Johnstown flood!""But we're so high up on the side of the hill, that the water won't come here," put in Ned."We had that all figured out when we heard the dam was weak.We're not in any danger; do you think so, Tom?""Well, I hardly do, or I would not have set the gun where I did.Tell me," he went on to the man, "is there any way of opening the dam, to let the water out gradually?""There is, but the openings are not enough with such a flood as this.The engineers never counted on so much rain.It's beyond any they ever had here.You see, there was a small creek that we dammed up to make our lake.Some of the water from the spillway flows into that now, but its channel won't hold a hundredth part of the flood if the dam goes out.
"You'd better move, I tell you.The dam is slowly weakening.We've done all we can to save it, but that's out of the question.The only thing to do is to run while there's time.We've tried to make additional openings, but we daren't make any more, or the wall will be so weakened that it will go out in less than twenty- four hours.
"You've had your warning, now profit by it!" he added."I'm going to tell those poor souls down in the valley below.It will be tough on them;but it can't be helped."
"If the dam bursts and the water could only be turned over into the transverse valley, this one would be safe," said Tom, in a low voice.
"Yes, but it can't be done!" the messenger exclaimed."Our engineers thought of that, but it would take a week to open a channel, and there isn't time.It can't be done!""Maybe it can," spoke Tom, softly, but no one asked him what he meant.
"Well, I must be off," the man went on."I've done my duty in warning you.""Yes, you have," agreed Tom, "and if any damage comes to us it will be our own fault.But I don't believe there will."The man hastened out, murmuring something about "rash and foolhardy people.""What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned."Stay right here.""But if the dam bursts?"
"It may not, but, if it does, we'll be safe.I have had a look at the water, and there's no chance for it to rise here, even if the whole dam went out at once, which is not likely.Don't worry.We'll be all right.""Bless my checkbook!" cried Mr.Damon."But what about those poor people in the valley?""They will have time to flee, and save their lives," spoke the young inventor; "but they may lose their homes.They can sue the water company for damages, though.Now don't do any more worrying, but get to bed, and be ready for the test tomorrow.And the first thing I do I'm going to have a little flight in the Humming Bird to get my nerves in trim.This long rain has gotten me in poor shape.Koku, you must be on the alert tonight.I don't want anything to happen to my gun at the last minute.""Me watch!" exclaimed the giant, significantly, as he picked up a heavy club.
"Do you anticipate any trouble?" asked Ned, anxiously.
"No, but it's best to be on the safe side," answered Tom."Now let's turn in."Certainly the next day, bright and sunshiny as it broke, had in it little of impending disaster.The weather was fine after the long-continued rains, and the whole valley seemed peaceful and quiet.At the far end could be seen the great dam, with water pouring over it in a thin sheet, forming a small stream that trickled down the centre of the valley, and to the town below.
But, through great pipes that led to the drinking system, though they were unseen, thundered immense streams of solid water, reducing by as much as the engineers were able the pressure on the concrete wall.
Tom and Ned, in the Humming Bird, took a flight out to the dam shortly after breakfast, when the steel men were putting a few finishing touches to the gun carriage, ready for the test that was to take place about noon.
"It doesn't look as though it would burst," observed Ned, as the aircraft hovered over the big artificial lake.
"No," agreed Tom."But I suppose the engineers want to be on the safe side in case of damage suits.I want to take a look at the place where the other valley comes up to this at right angles."He steered his powerful little craft in that direction, and circled low over the spot.
"A bursting projectile, about where that big white stone is, would do the trick," murmured Tom.
"What trick?" asked Ned, curiously.
"Oh, I guess I was talking to myself," admitted Tom, with a laugh."I may not have to do it, Ned.""Well, you're talking in riddles today, all right, Tom.When you get ready to put me wise, please do.""I will.Now we'll get back, and fire our first long shot.I do hope I make a record."There was much to be done, in spite of the fact that the foreman of the steel workers assured Tom that all was in readiness.It was some time that afternoon when word was given for those who wished to retire to an improvised bomb-proof.Word had previously been sent down the valley so that no one, unless he was looking for trouble, need be in the vicinity ofthe gun, nor near where the shots were to land.
Through powerful glasses Tom and Ned surveyed the distant mountain that was to be the target.Several great squares of white cloth had been put at different bare spots to make the finding of the range easy.
"I guess we're ready now," announced the young inventor, a bit nervously."Bring up the powder, Koku.""Me bring," exclaimed the giant, calmly, as he went to the bomb-proof where the powerful explosive was kept.
