g
at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was
some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the
words were shouted.

"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering
through the observation slot in the tower."

"I'm getting in good position," Tom answered. "Or rather, the worst
position I can find. I want to give the tank a good try-out, and I'm
going at the barn on the assumption that this is in enemy country and
that I can't pick and choose my advance.

"So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the barn from the
long way. That will be the worst possible way I could do it, and if old
Tank A stands the gaff I'll know she's a little bit nearer all right."

"I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a yell, for just
then Tom signaled for more speed, and the consequent increase in the
rattling and banging noises made it correspondingly difficult for talk
to be heard.

The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of by Tom. This
meant a dip downward, and then a climb out again and an attack on the
barn going uphill and at an angle. But, as the young inventor had said,
it would make a severe test and that was what he wanted to give his
ponderous machine.

Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to one side,
almost as if it were going to capsize, the tank rumbled on. Tom cast a
half-amused smile at his chum, and then threw over the guiding lever.

The tank rolled down into the gully. It was rough and filled with
stones and boulders, some of considerable size. But Tank A made less
than nothing even of the largest rocks. Some she crushed beneath her
steel belts. Others she simply "walked" over, smashing them down into
the soil.

Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and started up the
sides, which, though not as steep as the trench in which she had
capsized, still were not easy going.

"Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed.

Up climbed the tank. Now she was halfway. A moment later, and she was
at the top, and then a forward careening motion told that she had
passed over the summit and was ready for the attack proper.

Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him. He had a glimpse
of the barn, and then he saw something else. This was the sight of a
man running away from the dilapidated structure--a man who glanced
toward the tank with a face that showed great fright.