[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."There's the old barn I spoke of," he remarked to Ned."It's almost as bad aruin as the factory was.But we'll have a go at it.""Going to smash it?" asked Ned."I'm going right through it!" Tom criedChapter XVII.Veiled ThreatsLike some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind,Tank A, under the guidance ofTom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the oldbarn.Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang andclatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears;all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could beheard.Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signalsfrom the conning tower in the same way.When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, whichwas some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless thewords were shouted."Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering throughthe observation slot in the tower.""I'm getting in good position," Tom answered."Or rather, the worst position Ican find.I want to give the tank a good tryout, and I'm going at the barn onthe assumption that this is in enemy country and that I can't pick and choosemy advance."So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the barn from the longway.That will be the worst possible way I could do it, and if old Tank Astands the gaff I'll know she's a little bit nearer all right.""I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a yell, for just then Tomsignaled for more speed, and the consequent increase in the rattling andbanging noises made it correspondingly difficult for talk to be heard.The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of by Tom.This meanta dip downward, and then a climb out again and an attack on the barn goinguphill and at an angle.But, as the young inventor had said, it would make asevere test and that was what he wanted to give his ponderous machine.Tom Swift And His War TankChapter XVII.Veiled Threats56Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to one side, almost as ifit were going to capsize, the tank rumbled on.Tom cast a halfamused smile athis chum, and then threw over the guiding lever.The tank rolled down into the gully.It was rough and filled with stones andboulders, some of considerable size.But Tank A made less than nothing even ofthe largest rocks.Some she crushed beneath her steel belts.Others she simply "walked" over, smashing them down into the soil.Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and started up the sides,which, though not as steep as the trench in which she had capsized, still werenot easy going."Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed.Up climbed the tank.Now she was halfway.A moment later, and she was at thetop, and then a forward careening motion told that she had passed over thesummit and was ready for the attack proper.Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him.He had a glimpse of thebarn, and then he saw something else.This was the sight of a man running awayPage 49 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfrom the dilapidated structurea man who glanced toward the tank with a facethat showed great fright."Stop! Stop!" yelled Ned."There may be folks in there, Tom! I just saw a manrun out!""All right!" Tom cried, though Ned could hardly hear him."Tell me when we geton the other side! We're going through now!""But," shouted Ned, "don't you understand? I saw a man come out of there!Maybe there's more inside! Wait, Tom, and"But it was too late.The next instant there was a smashing, grinding,splintering crash, a noise as of a thunderclap, and Tank A fairly ate her waythrough the old barn as a rat might eat his way into a soft cheese, onlyinfinitely more quickly.On and on and through and through went the tank, knocking beams, boards,rafters and timbers hither and thither.Minding not at all the weight of greatbeams on her back, caring nothing for those that got in the way of her steelbelts, heeding not the wall of wood that reared itself before her in a barrierof splinters and slivers, Tank A went on and on until finally, with anothergrinding crash, as she smashed her way through the farthermost wall, the greatengine of war emerged on the other side and came panting into the field,dragging with her a part of the structure clinging to her steel sides."Well," cried Tom, with a laugh, as he signaled for the power to be shut off,thereby making it possible for ordinary conversation to be heard, "I guess wedidn't do a thing to that barn!""Not much left of it, for a fact, Tom," agreed Ned, as he looked through theafter observation slots at the ruin in the rear."But didn't you hear what Iwas saying?""I heard you yelling something to me, but I was too anxious to go at it asfast as I could.I didn't want to stop then.What was the trouble?""That's what I'm afraid of, Tomthere may be trouble.Just before you tackledthe barn for a knockdown, instead of a touchdown, as we might say, I saw a manrunning out of it.I thought if there was one there, perhaps there might bemore.That's why I yelled to you."Tom Swift And His War TankChapter XVII.Veiled Threats57"A man running from the old barn!" cried Tom."Whew!" he whistled."I wish Ihad seen him.But, Ned, if one ran out of harm's way, any others who mightpossibly be in there would do the same thing, wouldn't they?""I hope so," returned Ned doubtfully."Great Scott!" cried Tom, as the possibility was borne home to him."Ifanything has happened"He sprang for the door of the tower and threw over the catch, springing out,followed by Ned.From the engine room of the armored tank the men came, smilesof gratification on their faces."We certainly busted her wide open, Mr.Swift!" called the chief mechanician."Yes," assented the young inventor; but there was not as much gratification inhis voice as there should have been."There isn't much of a barn left, but Nedthinks he saw some one run out, and if there was one man there may have beenmore.We'd better have a look around, I guess."The engineering force exchanged glances.Then Hank Baldwin, who was in chargeof the motors, said:"Well, if there was anybody in that barn when we chewed her up I wouldn't givemuch for his hide, German or not.""Let us hope no one was in there," murmured Tom.They turned to go back to the demolished structure, fear and worry in theirhearts.No more complete ruin could be imagined
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]