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was on account of their possession of this secret
that they had been invited to join that body。
This projectile was not； in the ordinary sense of
the word； an explosive； and was named by its inventors；
〃The Instantaneous Motor。〃 It was discharged from an
ordinary cannon； but no gunpowder or other explosive
compound was used to propel it。 The bomb possessed； in
itself the necessary power of propulsion； and the gun
was used merely to give it the proper direction。
These bombs were cylindrical in form； and pointed
at the outer end。 They were filled with hundreds of
small tubes； each radiating outward from a central
line。 Those in the middle third of the bomb pointed
directly outward； while those in its front portion were
inclined forward at a slight angle； and those in the
rear portion backward at the same angle。 One tube at
the end of the bomb； and pointing directly backward；
furnished the motive power。
Each of these tubes could exert a force sufficient
to move an ordinary train of passenger cars one mile；
and this power could be exerted instantaneously； so
that the difference in time in the starting of a train
at one end of the mile and its arrival at the other
would not be appreciable。 The difference in
concussionary force between a train moving at the rate
of a mile in two minutes； or even one minute； and
another train which moves a mile in an instant； can
easily be imagined。
In these bombs； those tubes which might direct
their powers downward or laterally upon the earth were
capable of instantaneously propelling every portion of
solid ground or rock to a distance of two or three
hundred yards； while the particles of objects on the
surface of the earth were instantaneously removed to a
far greater distance。 The tube which propelled the
bomb was of a force graduated according to
circumstances； and it would carry a bomb to as great a
distance as accurate observation for purposes of aim
could be made。 Its force was brought into action
while in the cannon by means of electricity while the
same effect was produced in the other tubes by the
concussion of the steel head against the object aimed
at。
What gave the tubes their power was the jealously
guarded secret。
The method of aiming was as novel as the bomb
itself。 In this process nothing depended on the
eyesight of the gunner； the personal equation was
entirely eliminated。 The gun was so mounted that its
direction was accurately indicated by graduated scales；
there was an instrument which was acted upon by the
dip； rise； or roll of the vessel； and which showed at
any moment the position of the gun with reference to
the plane of the sea…surface。
Before the discharge of the cannon an observation
was taken by one of the scientific men； which
accurately determined the distance to the object to be
aimed at； and reference to a carefully prepared
mathematical table showed to what points on the
graduated scales the gun should be adjusted； and the
instant that the that the muzzle of the cannon was in
the position that it was when the observation was
taken； a button was touched and the bomb was
instantaneously placed on the spot aimed at。 The
exactness with which the propelling force of the bomb
could be determined was an important factor in this
method of aiming。
As soon as three of the spring…armoured vessels and
five 〃crabs〃 were completed； the Syndicate felt itself
ready to begin operations。 It was indeed time。 The
seas had been covered with American and British
merchantmen hastening homeward； or to friendly
ports； before the actual commencement of hostilities。
But all had not been fortunate enough to reach safety
within the limits of time allowed； and several American
merchantmen had been already captured by fast British
cruisers。
The members of the Syndicate well understood that
if a war was to be carried on as they desired； they
must strike the first real blow。 Comparatively
speaking； a very short time had elapsed since the
declaration of war； and the opportunity to take the
initiative was still open。
It was in order to take this initiative that； in
the early hours of a July morning； two of the
Syndicate's armoured vessels； each accompanied by a
crab； steamed out of a New England port； and headed for
the point on the Canadian coast where it had been
decided to open the campaign。
The vessels of the Syndicate had no individual
names。 The spring…armoured ships were termed
〃repellers；〃 and were numbered； and the crabs were
known by the letters of the alphabet。 Each repeller
was in charge of a Director of Naval Operations； and
the whole naval force of the Syndicate was under the
command of a Director…in…chief。 On this momentous
occasion this officer was on board of Repeller No。 1；
and commanded the little fleet。
The repellers had never been vessels of great
speed； and their present armour of steel strips； the
lower portion of which was frequently under water；
considerably retarded their progress； but each of them
was taken in tow by one of the swift and powerful
crabs； and with this assistance they made very good
time； reaching their destination on the morning of the
second day。
It was on a breezy day； with a cloudy sky； and the
sea moderately smooth； that the little fleet of the
Syndicate lay to off the harbour of one of the
principal Canadian seaports。 About five miles away the
headlands on either side of the mouth of the harbour
could be plainly seen。 It had been decided that
Repeller No。 1 should begin operations。 Accordingly；
that vessel steamed about a mile nearer the harbour；
accompanied by Crab A。 The other repeller and crab
remained in their first position； ready to act in case
they should be needed。
The approach of two vessels； evidently men…of…war；
and carrying the American flag； was perceived from the
forts and redoubts at the mouth of the harbour；
and the news quickly spread to the city and to the
vessels in port。 Intense excitement ensued on land and
water； among the citizens of the place as well as its
defenders。 Every man who had a post of duty was
instantly at it； and in less than half an hour the
British man…of…war Scarabaeus； which had been lying
at anchor a short distance outside the harbour； came
steaming out to meet the enemy。 There were other naval
vessels in port； but they required more time to be put
in readiness for action。
As soon as the approach of Scarabaeus was
perceived by Repeller No。 1； a boat bearing a white
flag was lowered from that vessel and was rapidly rowed
toward the British ship。 When the latter saw the boat
coming she lay to； and waited its arrival。 A note was
delivered to the captain of the Scarabaeus； in which
it was stated that the Syndicate； which had undertaken
on the part of the United States the conduct of the war
between that country and Great Br