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accepted in good faith； and as some of the military and
naval men had carefully noted that each puff from
the repeller was accompanied by a shock； it was
considered certain that all the bombs which had been
discharged had acted； and that； consequently； no
further danger was to be apprehended from them。 In
spite of this announcement many of the spectators would
not leave their position on the hills； but a hundred or more of
curious and courageous men ventured down into the plain。
That part of the sea…coast where Caerdaff had been
was a new country； about which men wandered slowly and
cautiously with sudden exclamations； of amazement and
awe。 There were no longer promontories jutting out
into the sea； there were no hillocks and rocky terraces
rising inland。 In a vast plain； shaven and shorn down
to a common level of scarred and pallid rock；
there lay an immense chasm two miles and a half long；
half a mile wide； and so deep that shuddering men could
stand and look down upon the rent and riven rocks upon
which had rested that portion of the Welsh coast which
had now blown out to sea。
An officer of the Royal Engineers stood on the
seaward edge of this yawning abyss； then he walked over
to the almost circular body of water which occupied the
place where the fishing village had been； and into
which the waters of the bay had flowed。 When this
officer returned to London he wrote a report to the
effect that a ship canal； less than an eighth of a mile
long； leading from the newly formed lake at the head of
the bay； would make of this chasm； when filled by the
sea； the finest and most thoroughly protected inland
basin for ships of all sizes on the British coast。 But
before this report received due official consideration
the idea had been suggested and elaborated in a dozen
newspapers。
Accounts and reports of all kinds describing the
destruction of Caerdaff； and of the place in which it
had stood； filled the newspapers of the world。 Photo…
graphs and pictures of Caerdaff as it had been and
as it then was were produced with marvellous rapidity；
and the earthquake bomb of the American War Syndicate
was the subject of excited conversation in every
civilized country。
The British Ministry was now the calmest body of
men in Europe。 The great opposition storm had died
away； the great war storm had ceased； and the wisest
British statesmen saw the unmistakable path of national
policy lying plain and open before them。 There was no
longer time for arguments and struggles with opponents
or enemies； internal or external。 There was even no
longer time for the discussion of measures。 It was the
time for the adoption of a measure which indicated
itself； and which did not need discussion。
On the afternoon of the day of the bombardment of
Caerdaff； Repeller No。 11； accompanied by her crabs；
steamed for the English Channel。 Two days afterward
there lay off the coast at Brighton； with a white flag
floating high above her； the old Tallapoosa； now
naval mistress of the world。
Near by lay a cable boat； and constant
communication by way of France was kept up between
the officers of the American Syndicate and the
repeller。 In a very short time communications were
opened between the repeller and London。
When this last step became known to the public of
America； almost as much excited by the recent events as
the public of England； a great disturbance arose in
certain political circles。 It was argued that the
Syndicate had no right to negotiate in any way with the
Government of England； that it had been empowered to
carry on a war； and that； if its duties in this regard
had been satisfactorily executed； it must now retire；
and allow the United States Government to attend to its
foreign relations。
But the Syndicate was firm。 It had contracted to
bring the war to a satisfactory conclusion。 When it
considered that this had been done； it would retire and
allow the American Government； with whom the contract
had been made； to decide whether or not it had been
properly performed。
The unmistakable path of national policy which had
shown itself to the wisest British statesmen appeared
broader and plainer when the overtures of the
American War Syndicate had been received by the British
Government。 The Ministry now perceived that the
Syndicate had not waged war； it had been simply
exhibiting the uselessness of war as at present waged。
Who now could deny that it would be folly to oppose the
resources of ordinary warfare to those of what might be
called prohibitive warfare。
Another idea arose in the minds of the wisest
British statesmen。 If prohibitive warfare were a good
thing for America； it would be an equally good thing
for England。 More than that； it would be a better
thing if only these two countries possessed the power
of waging prohibitive warfare。
In three days a convention of peace was concluded
between Great Britain and the American Syndicate acting
for the United States； its provisions being made
subject to such future treaties and alliances as the
governments of the two nations might make with each
other。 In six days after the affair at Caerdaff； a
committee of the American War Syndicate was in London；
making arrangements； under the favourable auspices of
the British Government； for the formation of an
Anglo…American Syndicate of War。
The Atlantic Ocean now sprang into new life。 It
seemed impossible to imagine whence had come the
multitude of vessels which now steamed and sailed upon
its surface。 Among these； going westward； were six
crabs； and the spring…armoured vessel； once the
Tallapoosa； going home to a triumphant reception；
such as had never before been accorded to any vessel；
whether of war or peace。
The blockade of the Canadian port； which had been
effectively maintained without incident； was now
raised； and the Syndicate's vessels proceeded to an
American port。
The British ironclad； Adamant； at the conclusion
of peace was still in tow of Crab C； and off the coast
of Florida。 A vessel was sent down the coast by the
Syndicate to notify Crab C of what had occurred； and to
order it to tow the Adamant to the Bermudas； and
there deliver her to the British authorities。 The
vessel sent by the Syndicate； which was a fast coast…
steamer； had scarcely hove in sight of the objects of
her search when she was saluted by a ten…inch shell
from the Adamant； followed almost immediately by
two others。 The commander of the Adamant had no idea
that the war was at an end； and had never failed；
during his involuntary cruise； to fire at anything
which bore the American flag； or looked like an
American craft。
Fortunately the coast steamer was not struck； and
at the top of her speed retired to a greater distance；
whence the Syndicate officer on board communicated with