Великий военный синдикат

           Herewastheculminationoftheknavishtrickeryoftheseconsciencelesspirateswhohadattackedtheport.Atorpedohadbeenexplodedintheharbour,anunfinishedforthadbeenminedandblownup,andallthishadbeendonetofrightenhim—aBritishsoldier—incommandofastrongfortwellgarrisonedandfullysuppliedwithallthemunitionsofwar.Inthefearthathisfortwouldbedestroyedbyamysticalbomb,hewasexpectedtomarchtoaplaceofsafetywithallhisforces.Ifthisshouldbedoneitwouldnotbelongbeforethesecraftyfellowswouldoccupythefort,andwithitsgreatgunsturnedinland,wouldholdthecityattheirmercy.Therecouldbenogreaterinsulttoasoldierthantosupposethathecouldbegulledbyatricklikethis.Nothoughtofactualdangerenteredthemindofthecommandant.Ithadbeeneasyenoughtosinkagreattorpedointheharbour,andtheunguardedbluffsofFortPilcherofferedeveryopportunitytothescoundrelswhomayhaveworkedattheirminesthroughthenightsofseveralmonths.Butamineunderthefortwhichhecommandedwasanimpossibility;itsguardedoutpostspreventedanysuchmethodofattack.Atabomb,oradozen,orahundredoftheSyndicate’sbombshesnappedhisfingers.Hecouldthrowbombsaswell.Nothingwouldpleasehimbetterthanthatthoseark-likeshipsintheoffingshouldcomenearenoughforanartilleryfight.Afewtonsofsolidshotandshelldroppedontopofthemmightbeaveryconclusiveanswertotheirimpudentdemands.