Великий военный синдикат

           TheseSyndicatepeoplewereevidentlyverytricky,andthedefendersoftheportmustthereforebeverycautious.FortPilcherwasaverylargeandunfinishedfortification,onabluffontheoppositesideoftheharbour.WorkhadbeendiscontinuedonitassoonastheSyndicate’svesselshadappearedofftheport,foritwasnotdesiredtoexposethebuildersandworkmentoapossiblebombardment.Theplacewasnow,therefore,almostdeserted;butafterthereceiptoftheSyndicate’smessage,thecommandantfearedthattheenemymightthrowanordinaryshellintotheunfinishedworks,andhesentaboatacrossthebaytoorderawayanyworkmenorotherswhomightbelingeringabouttheplace.Alittleaftertwoo’clockP.M.,aninstantaneousmotor-bombwasdischargedfromRepellerNo.1intoFortPilcher.Itwassettoactfivesecondsafterimpactwiththeobjectaimedat.Itstruckinacentralportionoftheunfinishedfort,andhavingdescribedahighcurveintheair,descendednotonlywithitsownmotivepower,butwiththeforceofgravitation,andpenetrateddeepintotheearth.FivesecondslateravastbrowncloudappearedontheFortPilcherpromontory.Thiscloudwasnearlysphericalinform,withanapparentdiameterofaboutathousandyards.Atthesameinstantashocksimilartothataccompanyingthefirstmotor-bombwasfeltinthecityandsurroundingcountry;butthiswasnotsosevereastheother,forthesecondbombdidnotexertitsforceupontheunderlyingrocksoftheregionasthefirstonehaddone.