helped Tom and Koku mount them in a vacant lot. The giant's
strength came in handy in handling the big parts.

Mr. Swift strolled past, as the guns were being mounted for the
preliminary test, and inquired what his son was doing.

"It will never work, Tom, never!" declared the aged inventor,
when informed. "You can't take up those guns in your air craft,
and fire them with any degree of safety."

"You wait, Dad," laughed Tom. "You haven't yet seen how the
Newton hydrostatic recoil operates."

Ned smiled with pleasure at this.

It took nearly a week to get all the guns mounted, for some of
them required considerable work, and it was also necessary to
attach gauges to them to register the recoil and pressure. In the
meanwhile Tom had been in further communication with government
experts who were soon to call on him to inspect the aerial
warship, with a view to purchase.

"When are they coming?" asked Ned, as he and Tom went out one
morning to make the first test of the guns.

"They will be here any day, now. They didn't set any definite
date. I suppose they want to take us unawares, to see that I
don't 'frame-up' any game on them. Well, I'll be ready any time
they come. Now, Koku, bring along those shells, and don't drop
any of them, for that new powder is freakish stuff."