pearing carriage, fitted with coiled, pneumatic and hydrostatic buffers, stood the strain.
Following the awful report, the terrific recoil and the howl of the wind as it rushed into the vacuum created, there was an intense silence. The projectile had been seen by some as a dark speck, rushing through the air like a meteor. Then the wireless operator could be seen writing down a message, the telephone-like receivers clamped over his ears.
"Something happened, all right!" he called aloud. "That shot hit something."
"Not one of the ships!" cried Tom, aghast.
"I don't know. There seems to be some difficulty in transmitting. Wait—I'm getting it now."
As he ceased speaking there came from underneath the great gun the sound of confused shouts. Tom and Ned recognized Koku's voice protesting:
"No—no—you can't come in here! Master said no one was to come in."
"What is it, Koku?" yelled Tom, springing to the speaking tube connecting with the powder magazine, at the same time keeping an eye on the wireless operator. Tom was torn between two anxieties.
"Someone here, Master!" cried the giant.
