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any moment might ascend in a cloud of minute particles。
They felt that they were in a region of hidden traitors
and bombs； and in consequence of this belief thousands
of citizens left their homes。
That afternoon a truce…boat again went out from
Repeller No。 1； and rowed to the fort； where a letter
to the commandant was delivered。 This； like the other；
demanded no answer； and the boat returned。 Later in
the afternoon the two repellers； accompanied by the
crabs； and leaving the steel net still anchored in its
place； retired a few miles seaward； where they prepared
to lay to for the night。
The letter brought by the truce…boat was read by
the commandant； surrounded by his officers。 It stated
that in twenty…four hours from time of writing it；
which would be at or about four o'clock on the next
afternoon； a bomb would be thrown into the garrisoned
fort； under the command of the officer addressed。 As
this would result in the entire destruction of the
fortification； the commandant was earnestly counselled
to evacuate the fort before the hour specified。
Ordinarily the commandant of the fort was of a calm
and unexcitable temperament。 During the astounding
events of that day and the day before he had kept his
head cool； his judgment； if not correct； was the result
of sober and earnest consideration。 But now he lost
his temper。 The unparalleled effrontery and impertinence
of this demand of the American Syndicate was too much for
his self…possession。 He stormed in anger。
Here was the culmination of the knavish trickery of
these conscienceless pirates who had attacked the port。
A torpedo had been exploded in the harbour； an
unfinished fort had been mined and blown up； and all
this had been done to frighten hima British soldier
in command of a strong fort well garrisoned and fully
supplied with all the munitions of war。 In the fear
that his fort would be destroyed by a mystical
bomb； he was expected to march to a place of safety
with all his forces。 If this should be done it would
not be long before these crafty fellows would occupy
the fort； and with its great guns turned inland； would
hold the city at their mercy。 There could be no
greater insult to a soldier than to suppose that he
could be gulled by a trick like this。
No thought of actual danger entered the mind of the
commandant。 It had been easy enough to sink a great
torpedo in the harbour； and the unguarded bluffs of
Fort Pilcher offered every opportunity to the
scoundrels who may have worked at their mines through
the nights of several months。 But a mine under the
fort which he commanded was an impossibility； its
guarded outposts prevented any such method of attack。
At a bomb； or a dozen； or a hundred of the Syndicate's
bombs he snapped his fingers。 He could throw bombs as
well。
Nothing would please him better than that those
ark…like ships in the offing should come near enough
for an artillery fight。 A few tons of solid shot and
shell dropped on top of them might be a very
conclusive answer to their impudent demands。
The letter from the Syndicate； together with his
own convictions on the subject； were communicated by
the commandant to the military authorities of the port；
and to the War Office of the Dominion。 The news of
what had happened that day had already been cabled
across the Atlantic back to the United States； and all
over the world； and the profound impression created by
it was intensified when it became known what the
Syndicate proposed to do the next day。 Orders and
advices from the British Admiralty and War Office sped
across the ocean； and that night few of the leaders in
government circles in England or Canada closed their
eyes。
The opinions of the commandant of the fort were
received with but little favour by the military and
naval authorities。 Great preparations were already
ordered to repel and crush this most audacious attack
upon the port； but in the mean time it was highly
desirable that the utmost caution and prudence should
be observed。 Three men…of…war had already been
disabled by the novel and destructive machines of the
enemy； and it had been ordered that for the present
no more vessels of the British navy be allowed to
approach the crabs of the Syndicate。
Whether it was a mine or a bomb which had been used
in the destruction of the unfinished works of Fort
Pilcher； it would be impossible to determine until an
official survey had been made of the ruins； but； in any
event； it would be wise and humane not to expose the
garrison of the fort on the south side of the harbour
to the danger which had overtaken the works on the
opposite shore。 If； contrary to the opinion of the
commandant； the garrisoned fort were really mined； the
following day would probably prove the fact。 Until
this point should be determined it would be highly
judicious to temporarily evacuate the fort。 This could
not be followed by occupation of the works by the
enemy； for all approaches； either by troops in boats or
by bodies of confederates by land； could be fully
covered by the inland redoubts and fortifications。
When the orders for evacuation reached the
commandant of the fort； he protested hotly； and urged
that his protest be considered。 It was not until the
command had been reiterated both from London and
Ottawa； that he accepted the situation； and with
bowed head prepared to leave his post。 All night
preparations for evacuation went on； and during the
next morning the garrison left the fort； and
established itself far enough away to preclude danger
from the explosion of a mine； but near enough to be
available in case of necessity。
During this morning there arrived in the offing
another Syndicate vessel。 This had started from a
northern part of the United States； before the
repellers and the crabs； and it had been engaged in
laying a private submarine cable； which should put the
office of the Syndicate in New York in direct
communication with its naval forces engaged with the
enemy。 Telegraphic connection between the cable boat
and Repeller No。 1 having been established； the
Syndicate soon received from its Director…in…chief full
and comprehensive accounts of what had been done and
what it was proposed to do。 Great was the satisfaction
among the members of the Syndicate when these direct
and official reports came in。 Up to this time they had
been obliged to depend upon very unsatisfactory
intelligence communicated from Europe； which had been
supplemented by wild statements and rumours
smuggled across the Canadian border。
To counteract the effect of these； a full report
was immediately made by the Syndicate to the Government
of the United States； and a bulletin distinctly
describing what had happened was issued to the people
of the country。 These reports； which received a world…