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of every torpedo and submarine battery in the harbour；
and it was with this object in view that the
instantaneous motor…bomb had been shot into the mouth
of the bay。
The effects of the discharge of the motor…bomb
astonished and even startled those on board the
repellers and the crabs。 At the instant of touching
the button a hydraulic shock was felt on Repeller No。
1。 This was supposed to be occasioned the discharge of
the motor； but it was also felt on the other vessels。
It was the same shock that had been felt on shore； but
less in degree。 A few moments after there was a great
heaving swell of the sea； which tossed and rolled the
four vessels； and lifted the steel protecting net
so high that for an instant parts of it showed
themselves above the surface like glistening sea…ghosts。
Experiments with motor…bombs had been made in
unsettled mountainous districts； but this was the first
one which had ever exerted its power under water。
On shore； in the forts； and in the city no one for
an instant supposed that the terrific phenomenon which
had just occurred was in any way due to the vessels of
the Syndicate。 The repellers were in plain view； and
it was evident that neither of them had fired a gun。
Besides； the firing of cannon did not produce such
effects。 It was the general opinion that there had
been an earthquake shock； accompanied by a cloud…burst
and extraordinary convulsions of the sea。 Such a
combination of elementary disturbances had never been
known in these parts； and a great many persons were
much more frightened than if they had understood what
had really happened。
In about half an hour after the discharge of the
motor…bomb； when the sea had resumed its usual quiet； a
boat carrying a white flag left Repeller No。 1； rowed
directly over the submerged net； and made for the
harbour。 When the approach of this flag…of…truce was
perceived from the fort nearest the mouth of the
harbour； it occasioned much surmise。 Had the
earthquake brought these Syndicate knaves to their
senses？ Or were they about to make further absurd and
outrageous demands？ Some irate officers were of the
opinion that enemies like these should be considered no
better than pirates； and that their flag…of…truce
should be fired upon。 But the commandant of the fort
paid no attention to such counsels； and sent a
detachment with a white flag down to the beach to meet
the approaching boat and learn its errand。
The men in the boat had nothing to do but to
deliver a letter from the Director…in…chief to the
commandant of the fort； and then row back again。 No
answer was required。
When the commandant read the brief note； he made no
remark。 In fact； he could think of no appropriate
remark to make。 The missive simply informed him that
at ten o'clock and eighteen minutes A。 M。； of that day；
the first bomb from the marine forces of the Syndicate
had been discharged into the waters of the harbour。
At； or about； two o'clock P。M。； the second bomb would
be discharged at Fort Pilcher。 That was all。
What this extraordinary message meant could not be
imagined by any officer of the garrison。 If the people
on board the ships were taking advantage of the
earthquake； and supposed that they could induce British
soldiers to believe that it had been caused by one of
their bombs； then were they idiots indeed。 They would
fire their second shot at Fort Pilcher！ This was
impossible； for they had not yet fired their first
shot。 These Syndicate people were evidently very
tricky； and the defenders of the port must therefore be
very cautious。
Fort Pilcher was a very large and unfinished
fortification； on a bluff on the opposite side of the
harbour。 Work had been discontinued on it as soon as
the Syndicate's vessels had appeared off the port； for
it was not desired to expose the builders and workmen
to a possible bombardment。 The place was now；
therefore； almost deserted； but after the receipt of
the Syndicate's message； the commandant feared that the
enemy might throw an ordinary shell into the
unfinished works； and he sent a boat across the bay to
order away any workmen or others who might be lingering
about the place。
A little after two o'clock P。M。； an instantaneous
motor…bomb was discharged from Repeller No。 1 into Fort
Pilcher。 It was set to act five seconds after impact
with the object aimed at。 It struck in a central
portion of the unfinished fort； and having described a
high curve in the air； descended not only with its own
motive power； but with the force of gravitation； and
penetrated deep into the earth。
Five seconds later a vast brown cloud appeared on
the Fort Pilcher promontory。 This cloud was nearly
spherical in form； with an apparent diameter of about a
thousand yards。 At the same instant a shock similar to
that accompanying the first motor…bomb was felt in the
city and surrounding country； but this was not so
severe as the other； for the second bomb did not exert
its force upon the underlying rocks of the region as
the first one had done。
The great brown cloud quickly began to lose its
spherical form； part of it descending heavily to the
earth； and part floating away in vast dust…clouds borne
inland by the breeze； settling downward as they moved； and
depositing on land； water； ships； houses； domes； and
trees an almost impalpable powder。
When the cloud had cleared away there were no
fortifications； and the bluff on which they had stood
had disappeared。 Part of this bluff had floated away
on the wind； and part of it lay piled in great heaps of
sand on the spot where its rocks were to have upheld a
fort。
The effect of the motor…bomb was fully observed
with glasses from the various fortifications of the
port； and from many points of the city and harbour； and
those familiar with the effects of explosives were not
long in making up their minds what had happened。 They
felt sure that a mine had been sprung beneath Fort
Pilcher； and they were now equally confident that in
the morning a torpedo of novel and terrible power had
been exploded in the harbour。 They now disbelieved in
the earthquake； and treated with contempt the pretence
that shots had been fired from the Syndicate's vessel。
This was merely a trick of the enemy。 It was not even
likely that the mine or the torpedo had been
operated from the ship。 These were； in all
probability； under the control of confederates on
shore； and had been exploded at times agreed upon
beforehand。 All this was perfectly plain to the
military authorities。
But the people of the city derived no comfort from
the announcement of these conclusions。 For all that
anybody knew the whole city might be undermined； and at
any moment might ascend in a cloud of minute particles。
They felt that they were in a region of hidden traitors
and bombs