doped, I can't save the town! What can I do? What can I do?"
Ned had reached the foreman, who, with his helpers, was standing about the big gun.
"Have any of your men left recently?" yelled Ned.
"Any of my men left? What do you mean? Is"
"Schlichter went yesterday," said the timekeeper. "I thought he was in quite a hurry to get his money, too."
"Schlichter gone!" exclaimed the foreman. "He was no good anyhow. I think he was a sort of Anarchist; always against the government, the way he talked. So he has left; eh? But what's the matter, Ned?"
"Something wrong with the powder. Tom can't shoot the cannon and turn aside the water to save the town. Some of his enemies have been at work. Schlichter leaving at this time, and in such hurry, makes it look suspicious."
"It sure does! And, now I recall it, I saw him yesterday near your powder magazine. I called him down for it, for I knew Tom Swift had given orders that only his own party was to go near it. So the powder is doped; eh?"
"Yes! It's all off now."
He turned to see Tom approaching on the run.
