Page:Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon.djvu/197

Rh tionally secure against a possible recurrence of the accident. But a few days more and it would be safe at Colon.

Tom and Ned had gone on deck soon after breakfast to look at the cannon. All about were pieces of the broken cables, that had been cast aside when the new lashings were put on. Ned picked up one end, remarking:

"These seem mighty strong. It's queer how they broke."

"Well, there was quite a weight upon them," spoke Tom.

Ned did not reply for a moment. Then, as he looked at another piece of a severed cable, he exclaimed:

"Tom, the weight of your gun never broke these."

"What do you mean, Ned?"

"I mean that they were partly filed, or cut through—then the storm and the pressure of the gun did the rest Look!"

He held out the piece of wire rope. There, on the end, could be seen several strands cleanly severed, as though a file or a hack-saw had been used.

"By Jove!" murmured Tom, He looked about the deck. There was no one near the big gun. "Ned," whispered his chum, "there's something