Великий военный синдикат

           TheletterfromtheSyndicate,togetherwithhisownconvictionsonthesubject,werecommunicatedbythecommandanttothemilitaryauthoritiesoftheport,andtotheWarOfficeoftheDominion.ThenewsofwhathadhappenedthatdayhadalreadybeencabledacrosstheAtlanticbacktotheUnitedStates,andallovertheworld;andtheprofoundimpressioncreatedbyitwasintensifiedwhenitbecameknownwhattheSyndicateproposedtodothenextday.OrdersandadvicesfromtheBritishAdmiraltyandWarOfficespedacrosstheocean,andthatnightfewoftheleadersingovernmentcirclesinEnglandorCanadaclosedtheireyes.Theopinionsofthecommandantofthefortwerereceivedwithbutlittlefavourbythemilitaryandnavalauthorities.Greatpreparationswerealreadyorderedtorepelandcrushthismostaudaciousattackupontheport,butinthemeantimeitwashighlydesirablethattheutmostcautionandprudenceshouldbeobserved.Threemen-of-warhadalreadybeendisabledbythenovelanddestructivemachinesoftheenemy,andithadbeenorderedthatforthepresentnomorevesselsoftheBritishnavybeallowedtoapproachthecrabsoftheSyndicate.WhetheritwasamineorabombwhichhadbeenusedinthedestructionoftheunfinishedworksofFortPilcher,itwouldbeimpossibletodetermineuntilanofficialsurveyhadbeenmadeoftheruins;but,inanyevent,itwouldbewiseandhumanenottoexposethegarrisonofthefortonthesouthsideoftheharbourtothedangerwhichhadovertakentheworksontheoppositeshore.