Великий военный синдикат

           TheBritishcaptainstoodforamomentmotionless,andthenhepickeduparammerandranitintothemuzzleofthecannonwhichhadbeendischarged.Thegreatgunwasempty.Theinstantaneousmotor-bombwasnotthere.NowhewasconvincedthattheSyndicatehadnotminedthefortresseswhichtheyhaddestroyed.IntwentyminutesthetwoBritishofficerswereonboardthetransport,whichthensteamedrapidlywestward.Thecrabsagaintooktherepellerintow,andtheSyndicate’sfleetcontinueditseastwardcourse,passingthroughthewideexpanseofglitteringscumwhichhadspreaditselfuponthesea.Theywerenottwo-thirdsoftheirwayacrosstheAtlanticwhenthetransportreachedSt.John’s,andthecabletoldtheworldthattheCraglevinhadbeenannihilated.Thenewswasreceivedwithamazement,andevenconsternation.ItcamefromanofficerintheRoyalNavy,andhowcoulditbedoubtedthatagreatman-of-warhadbeendestroyedinamomentbyoneshotfromtheSyndicate’svessel!Andyet,evennow,therewerepersonswhodiddoubt,andwhoassertedthatthecrabsmighthaveplacedagreattorpedoundertheCraglevin,thatawireattachedtothistorpedoranoutfromtherepeller,andthattheBritishcaptainhadmerelyfiredthetorpedo.Buthourbyhour,asfullernewscameacrosstheocean,thenumberofthesedoubtersbecamesmallerandsmaller.InthemidstofthegreatpublicexcitementwhichnowexistedonbothsidesoftheAtlantic,—inthemidstofalltheconflictingopinions,fears,andhopes,—thedominantsentimentseemedtobe,inAmericaaswellasinEurope,oneofcuriosity.