the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第8章
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fort； that it required violence to remove him； and it was not until twenty
minutes past four that the Syndicate observers perceived that he had been
taken to the hill behind which the garrison was encamped。
As it had been decided that Repeller No。 2 should discharge the next
instantaneous motor…bomb； there was an anxious desire on the part of the
operators on that vessel that in this； their first experience； they might do
their duty as well as their comrades on board the other repeller had done
theirs。 The most accurate observations； the most careful calculations； were
made and re…made； the point to be aimed at being about the centre of the
fort。
The motor…bomb had been in the cannon for nearly an hour； and
everything had long been ready； when at precisely thirty minutes past four
o'clock the signal to discharge came from the Director…in…chief； and in four
seconds afterwards the index on the scale indicated that the gun was in the
proper position； and the button was touched。 The motor…bomb was set to
act the instant it should touch any portion of the fort； and the effect was
different from that of the other bombs。 There was a quick； hard shock； but
it was all in the air。 Thou… sands of panes of glass in the city and in houses
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for miles around were cracked or broken； birds fell dead or stunned upon
the ground； and people on elevations at considerable distances felt as if
they had received a blow； but there was no trembling of the ground。 As to
the fort； it had entirely disappeared； its particles having been
instantaneously removed to a great distance in every direction； falling over
such a vast expanse of land and water that their descent was unobservable。
In the place where the fortress had stood there was a wide tract of bare
earth； which looked as if it had been scraped into a staring dead level of
gravel and clay。 The instantaneous motor…bomb had been arranged to act
almost horizontally。 Few persons； except those who from a distance had
been watching the fort with glasses； understood what had happened； but
every one in the city and surrounding country was conscious that
something had happened of a most startling kind； and that it was over in
the same instant in which they had perceived it。 Everywhere there was the
noise of falling window…glass。 There were those who asserted that for an
instant they had heard in the distance a grinding crash； and there were
others who were quite sure that they had noticed what might be called a
flash of darkness； as if something had； with almost unappreciable
quickness； passed between them and the sun。 When the officers of the
garrison mounted the hill before them and surveyed the place where their
fort had been； there was not one of them who had sufficient command of
himself to write a report of what had happened。 They gazed at the bare；
staring flatness of the shorn bluff； and they looked at each other。 This was
not war。 It was something supernatural； awful！ They were not frightened；
they were oppressed and appalled。 But the military discipline of their
minds soon exerted its force； and a brief account of the terrific event was
transmitted to the authorities； and Sergeant Kilsey was sentenced to a
month in the guard… house。 No one approached the vicinity of the bluff
where the fort had stood； for danger might not be over； but every possible
point of observation within a safe distance was soon crowded with anxious
and terrified observers。 A feeling of awe was noticeable everywhere。 If
people could have had a tangible idea of what had occurred； it would have
been different。 If the sea had raged； if a vast body of water had been
thrown into the air； if a dense cloud had been suddenly ejected from the
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surface of the earth； they might have formed some opinion about it。 But
the instantaneous disappearance of a great fortification with a little more
appreciable accompaniment than the sudden tap； as of a little hammer；
upon thousands of window…panes； was something which their intellects
could not grasp。 It was not to be expected that the ordinary mind could
appreciate the difference between the action of an instantaneous motor
when imbedded in rocks and earth； and its effect； when opposed by
nothing but stone walls； upon or near the surface of the earth。 Early the
next morning； the little fleet of the Syndicate prepared to carry out its
further orders。 The waters of the lower bay were now entirely deserted；
craft of every description having taken refuge in the upper part of the
harbour near and above the city。 Therefore； as soon as it was light enough
to make observations； Repeller No。 1 did not hesitate to discharge a motor…
bomb into the harbour； a mile or more above where the first one had fallen。
This was done in order to explode any torpedoes which might have been
put into position since the discharge of the first bomb。 There were very
few people in the city and suburbs who were at that hour out of doors
where they could see the great cloud of water arise toward the sky； and
behold it descend like a mighty cataract upon the harbour and adjacent
shores； but the quick； sharp shock which ran under the town made people
spring from their beds； and although nothing was then to be seen； nearly
everybody felt sure that the Syndicate's forces had begun their day's work
by exploding another mine。 A lighthouse； the occupants of which had been
ordered to leave when the fort was evacuated； as they might be in danger
in case of a bombardment； was so shaken by the explosion of this motor…
bomb that it fell in ruins on the rocks upon which it had stood。 The two
crabs now took the steel net from its moorings and carried it up the
harbour。 This was rather difficult on account of the islands； rocks； and
sand…bars； but the leading crab had on board a pilot acquainted with those
waters。 With the net hanging between them； the two submerged vessels；
one carefully following the other； reached a point about two miles below
the city； where the net was anchored across the harbour。 It did not reach
from shore to shore； but in the course of the morning two other nets；
designed for shallower waters； were brought from the repellers and
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anchored at each end of the main net； thus forming a line of complete
protection against submarine torpedoes which might be sent down from
the upper harbour。 Repeller No。 1 now steamed into the harbour；
accompanied by Crab A； and anchored about a quarter of a mile seaward
of the net。 The other repeller； with her attendant crab； cruised about the
mouth of the harbour； watching a smaller entrance to the port as well as
the larger one； and thus maintaining an effective blockade。 This was not a
difficult duty； for since the news of the extraordinary performances of the
crabs had been spread abroad； no merchant vessel； large or small； cared to
approach that port； and strict orders had been issued by the British
Admiralty that no vessel of the navy should； until further instructed；
engage in combat with the peculiar craft of the Syndicate。 Until a plan of
action had been determined upon； it was very desirable that English
cruisers should not be exposed to useless injury and danger。 This being the
state of affairs； a message was sent from the office of the Syndicate across
the border to the Dominion Government； which stated that the seaport city
which had been attacked by the forces of the Syndicate now lay under the
guns of its vessels； and in case of any overt act of war by Great Britain or
Canada alone； such as the entrance of an armed force from British territory
into the United States； or a capture of or attack upon an American vessel；
naval or commercial； by a British man…of…war； or an attack upon an
American port by British vessels； the city would be bombarded and
destroyed。 This message； which was； of course； instantly transmitted to
London； placed the British Government in the apparent position of being
held by the throat by the American War Syndicate。 But if the British
Government； or the people of England or Canada； recognized this position
at all； it was merely as a temporary condition。 In a short time the most
powerful men…of…war of the Royal Navy； as well as a fleet of transports
carrying troops； would reach the coasts of North America； and then the
condition of affairs would rapidly be changed。 It was absurd to suppose
that a few medium…sized vessels； however heavily armoured； or a few
new…fangled submarine machines； however destructive they might be；
could withstand an armada of the largest and finest armoured vessels in
the world。 A ship or two might be disabled； although this was unlikely；
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now that the new method of attack was understood； but it would soon be
the ports of the United States； on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts；
which would lie under the guns of an enemy。 But it was not in the power
of their navy that the British Government and the people of England and
Canada placed their greatest trust； but in the incapacity of their petty foe to
support its ridiculous assumptions。 The claim that the city lay under the
guns of the American Syndicate was considered ridiculous； for few people
believed th
