" 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 won't be
dangerous. We'll crawl down and crawl out. Hold fast!"
He steered the machine straight for the edge of the
ravine, and as the nose slipped over and the broad steel
belts bit into the earth the tank tilted downward at a
sickening angle.
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