Великий военный синдикат

           Theyhadattemptedtoprovethisbyannouncingthatatacertaintimeabombshouldbeprojectedintoacertainfort.Preciselyatthespecifiedtimetheforthadbeendestroyed,butnobodybelievedthatabombhadbeenfired.Everyopinion,officialorpopular,concerningwhatithaddoneandwhatmightbeexpectedofit,waspromptlyforwardedtotheSyndicatebyitsagents,anditwasthusenabledtoseeveryplainlyindeedthattheeffectithaddesiredtoproducehadnotbeenproduced.UnlesstheenemycouldbemadetounderstandthatanyfortorshipswithintenmilesofoneoftheSyndicate’scannoncouldbeinstantaneouslydissipatedintheshapeoffinedust,thiswarcouldnotbecarriedonupontheprinciplesadopted,andthereforemightaswellpassoutofthehandsoftheSyndicate.DaybydayandnightbynightthestateofaffairswasanxiouslyconsideredattheofficeoftheSyndicateinNewYork.Anewandimportantundertakingwasdeterminedupon,andonthesuccessofthisthehopesoftheSyndicatenowdepended.DuringtherapidandvigorouspreparationswhichtheSyndicatewerenowmakingfortheirnewventure,severaleventsofinterestoccurred.TwoofthelargestAtlanticmailsteamers,carryinginfantryandartillerytroops,andconveyedbytwoswiftandpowerfulmen-of-war,arrivedoffthecoastofCanada,considerablytothenorthoftheblockadedcity.ThedepartureandprobabletimeofarrivalofthesevesselshadbeentelegraphedtotheSyndicate,throughoneofthecontinentalcables,andarepellerwithtwocrabshadbeenforsomedayswaitingforthem.