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 Synd