"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant
was heah now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle.
I'll pull good an' hard, Massa Tom."

"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready.
Can you see, Dad--and Ned and Mr. Damon?"

"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the
shop, while Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which
the motor, with the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been
temporarily mounted.

"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas
and threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the
starting lever, Rad. and when it's been running a little I'll
throw on the silencer and you can see the difference."

The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as
there always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as
though half a dozen automobile engines were being run with the
mufflers cut out.

"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was
the noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my
silencer will do."

Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the
deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after
a moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had