as though on a
regularly constructed bridge.

On and on she went. Now her entire weight was over the middle of the
temporary structures. If they were going to give way at all, it would
be at this point But they did not give. The latticed and triangular
steel, than which there is no stronger form of construction, held up
the immense weight of Tank A, and on this novel bridge she propelled
herself across Tinkle Creek.

"Well, the worst is over," remarked Ned, as he saw the nose of the tank
project beyond the farthermost bank.

"Yes, even if they collapse now nothing much can happen," Tom answered.
"It won't be any worse than wallowing down into a trench and out again.
But I think the spanners will hold."

And hold they did! They held, giving way not a fraction of an inch,
until the tank was safely across, and then, after a little delay, due
to a jamming of one of the recovery cables, the spanners were picked
up, slid into the receiving sockets, and the great war engine was ready
to proceed again.

"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "She did it, Tom, old man!" and he clapped his
chum resoundingly on the back.

"She certainly did!" was the answer. "But you needn't knock me apart
telling me that. Go easy!"

"Bless my apple pie!" cried Mr. Damon, who was as much pleased as
either of the boys, "this is what I call great!"

"Yes, she did all that I could have hoped for," said Tom. "Now for the
next test."

"Bless my collar button! is there another?"

"Just down into a trench and out again." Tom said. "This is
comparatively simple. It's only what she'll have to do every day in
Flanders."

The tank waddled on. A duck's sidewise walk is about the only kind of
motion that can be compared to it. The going was easier now, for it was
across a big field, and Tom told his friends that at the other end was
a deep, steep and rocky ravine in which he had decided to give the tank
another test.

"We'll imagine that ravine is a trench," he said, "and that we've got
to get on the other side of it. Of course, we won't be under fire, as
the tanks will be at the front, but aside from that the test will be
just as severe."

A little later Tank A brought her occupants to the edge of the "trench."

"Now, little girl," cried Tom exultingly, patting the rough steel side
of his tank, "show them what you can do!"

"Bless my plum pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "are you really going down
there, Tom Swift?"

"I am," answered the young inventor. "It