Великий военный синдикат

           Forallthatanybodyknewthewholecitymightbeundermined,andatanymomentmightascendinacloudofminuteparticles.Theyfeltthattheywereinaregionofhiddentraitorsandbombs,andinconsequenceofthisbeliefthousandsofcitizenslefttheirhomes.Thatafternoonatruce-boatagainwentoutfromRepellerNo.1,androwedtothefort,wherealettertothecommandantwasdelivered.This,liketheother,demandednoanswer,andtheboatreturned.Laterintheafternoonthetworepellers,accompaniedbythecrabs,andleavingthesteelnetstillanchoredinitsplace,retiredafewmilesseaward,wheretheypreparedtolaytoforthenight.Theletterbroughtbythetruce-boatwasreadbythecommandant,surroundedbyhisofficers.Itstatedthatintwenty-fourhoursfromtimeofwritingit,whichwouldbeatoraboutfouro’clockonthenextafternoon,abombwouldbethrownintothegarrisonedfort,underthecommandoftheofficeraddressed.Asthiswouldresultintheentiredestructionofthefortification,thecommandantwasearnestlycounselledtoevacuatethefortbeforethehourspecified.Ordinarilythecommandantofthefortwasofacalmandunexcitabletemperament.Duringtheastoundingeventsofthatdayandthedaybeforehehadkepthisheadcool;hisjudgment,ifnotcorrect,wastheresultofsoberandearnestconsideration.Butnowhelosthistemper.TheunparalleledeffronteryandimpertinenceofthisdemandoftheAmericanSyndicatewastoomuchforhisself-possession.Hestormedinanger.