the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第25节
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vantage on the mountains lying some miles back from the coast was
occupied by excited spectators； nearly every one armed with a field…glass。
A few of the guns from the fortifications were transported to an
overlooking height； in order that they might be brought into action in case
the repeller； instead of bombarding； should send men in boats to take
possession of the evacuated fortifications； or should attempt any mining
operations。 The gunners for this battery were stationed at a safe place to
the rear； whence they could readily reach their guns if necessary。 The next
day was one of supreme importance to the Syndicate。 On this day it must
make plain to the world； not only what the motor…bomb could do； but that
the motor…bomb did what was done。 Before leaving the English Channel
the director of Repeller No。 11 had received telegraphic advices from both
Europe and America； indicating the general drift of public opinion in
regard to the recent sea…fight； and； besides these； many English and
continental papers had been brought to him from the French coast。 From
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all these the director perceived that the cause of the Syndicate had in a
certain way suffered from the manner in which the battle in the channel
had been conducted。 Every newspaper urged that if the repeller carried
guns capable of throwing the bombs which the Syndicate professed to use；
there was no reason why every ship in the British fleet should not have
been destroyed。 But as the repeller had not fired a single shot at the fleet；
and as the battle had been fought entirely by the crabs； there was every
reason to believe that if there were such things as motor…guns； their range
was very short； not as great as that of the ordinary dynamite cannon。 The
great risk run by one of the crabs in order to disable a dynamite gun…boat
seemed an additional proof of this。 It was urged that the explosions in the
water might have been produced by torpedoes； that the torpedo…boat which
had been destroyed was so near the repeller that an ordinary shell was
sufficient to accomplish the damage that had been done。 To gainsay these
assumptions was imperative on the Syndicate's forces。 To firmly establish
the prestige of the instantaneous motor was the object of the war。 Crabs
were of but temporary service。 Any nation could build vessels like them；
and there were many means of destroying them。 The spring armour was a
complete defence against ordinary artillery； but it was not a defence
against submarine torpedoes。 The claims of the Syndicate could be firmly
based on nothing but the powers of absolute annihilation possessed by the
instantaneous motor…bomb。 About nine o'clock on the appointed morning；
Repeller No。 11； much to the surprise of the spectators on the high grounds
with field…glasses and telescopes； steamed away from Caerdaff。 What this
meant nobody knew； but the naval military observers immediately
suspected that the Syndicate's vessel had concentrated attention upon
Caerdaff in order to go over to Ireland to do some sort of mischief there。 It
was presumed that the crabs accompanied her； but as they were now at
their fighting depth it was impossible to see them at so great a distance。
But it was soon perceived that Repeller No。 11 had no intention of running
away； nor of going over to Ireland。 From slowly cruising about four or five
miles off shore； she had steamed westward until she had reached a point
which； according to the calculations of her scientific corps； was nine
marine miles from Caerdaff。 There she lay to against a strong breeze from
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the east。
It was not yet ten o'clock when the officer in charge of the starboard
gun remarked to the director that he suppose that it would not be necessary
to give the smoke signals； as had been done in the channel； as now all the
crabs were lying near them。 The director reflected a moment； and then
ordered that the signals should be given at every discharge of the gun； and
that the columns of black smoke should be shot up to their greatest height。
At precisely ten o'clock； up rose from Repeller No。 11 two tall jets of
black smoke。 Up rose from the promontory of Caerdaff； a heavy gray
cloud； like an immense balloon； and then the people on the hill…tops and
highlands felt a sharp shock of the ground and rocks beneath them； and
heard the sound of a terrible but momentary grinding crush。
As the cloud began to settle； it was borne out to sea by the wind； and
then it was revealed that the fortifications of Caerdaff had disappeared。
In ten minutes there was another smoke signal； and a great cloud over
the castellated structure on the other side of the bay。 The cloud passed
away； leaving a vacant space on the other side of the bay。
The second shock sent a panic through the crowd of spectators。 The
next earthquake bomb might strike among them。 Down the eastern slopes
ran hundreds of them； leaving only a few of the bravest civilians； the
reporters of the press； and the naval and military men。 The next motor…
bomb descended into the fishing village； the comminuted particles of
which； being mostly of light material； floated far out to sea。 The
detachment of artillerists who had been deputed to man the guns on the
heights which commanded the bay had been ordered to fall back to the
mountains as soon as it had been seen that it was not the intention of the
repeller to send boats on shore。 The most courageous of the spectators
trembled a little when the fourth bomb was discharged； for it came farther
inland； and struck the height on which the battery had been placed；
removing all vestiges of the guns； caissons； and the ledge of rock on which
they had stood。 The motor…bombs which the repeller was now discharging
were of the largest size and greatest power； and a dozen more of them
were discharged at intervals of a few minutes。 The promontory on which
the fortifications had stood was annihilated； and the waters of the bay
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swept over its foundations。 Soon afterward the head of the bay seemed
madly rushing out to sea； but quickly surged back to fill the chasm which
yawned at the spot where the village had been。 The dense clouds were
now upheaved at such short intervals that the scene of devastation was
completely shut out from the observers on the hills； but every few minutes
they felt a sickening shock； and heard a momentary and horrible crash and
hiss which seemed to fill all the air。 The instantaneous motor…bombs were
tearing up the sea…board； and grinding it to atoms。 It was not yet noon
when the bombardment ceased。 No more puffs of black smoke came up
from the distant repeller； and the vast spreading mass of clouds moved
seaward； dropping down upon St。 George's Channel in a rain of stone dust。
Then the repeller steamed shoreward； and when she was within three or
four miles of the coast she ran up a large white flag in token that her task
was ended。 This sign that the bombardment had ceased was 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
