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dangerous positiona position in which they were placed by the universal
incredulity regarding the instantaneous motor； and unless they could make
the world believe that they really used such a motor…bomb； the war could
not be prosecuted on the plan projected。 It was easy enough to convince
the enemy of the terrible destruction the Syndicate was able to effect； but
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to make that enemy and the world understand that this was done by bombs；
which could be used in one place as well as another； was difficult indeed。
They had attempted to prove this by announcing that at a certain time a
bomb should be projected into a certain fort。 Precisely at the specified
time the fort had been destroyed； but nobody believed that a bomb had
been fired。 Every opinion； official or popular； concerning what it had done
and what might be expected of it； was promptly forwarded to the
Syndicate by its agents； and it was thus enabled to see very plainly indeed
that the effect it had desired to produce had not been produced。 Unless the
enemy could be made to understand that any fort or ships within ten miles
of one of the Syndicate's cannon could be instantaneously dissipated in the
shape of fine dust； this war could not be carried on upon the principles
adopted； and therefore might as well pass out of the hands of the Syndicate。
Day by day and night by night the state of affairs was anxiously
considered at the office of the Syndicate in New York。 A new and
important undertaking was determined upon； and on the success of this the
hopes of the Syndicate now depended。 During the rapid and vigorous
preparations which the Syndicate were now making for their new venture；
several events of interest occurred。 Two of the largest Atlantic mail
steamers； carrying infantry and artillery troops； and conveyed by two swift
and powerful men…of…war； arrived off the coast of Canada； considerably to
the north of the blockaded city。 The departure and probable time of arrival
of these vessels had been telegraphed to the Syndicate； through one of the
continental cables； and a repeller with two crabs had been for some days
waiting for them。 The English vessels had taken a high northern course；
hoping they might enter the Gulf of St。 Lawrence without subjecting
themselves to injury from the enemy's crabs； it not being considered
probable that there were enough of these vessels to patrol the entire coast。
But although the crabs were few in number； the Syndicate was able to
place them where they would be of most use； and when the English
vessels arrived off the northern entrance to the gulf； they found their
enemies there。 However strong might be the incredulity of the enemy
regarding the powers of a repeller to bombard a city； the Syndicate felt
sure there would be no present invasion of the United States from Canada；
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but it wished to convince the British Government that troops and
munitions of war could not be safely transported across the Atlantic。 On
the other hand； the Syndicate very much objected to undertaking the
imprisonment and sustenance of a large body of soldiers。 Orders were
therefore given to the officer in charge of the repeller not to molest the two
transports； but to remove the rudders and extract the screws of the two
war…vessels； leaving them to be towed into port by the troop…ships。 This
duty was performed by the crabs； while the British vessels； both rams；
were preparing to make a united and vigorous onset on the repeller； and
the two men…of…war were left hopelessly tossing on the waves。 One of the
transports； a very fast steamer； had already entered the straits； and could
not be signalled； but the other one returned and took both the war…ships in
tow； proceeding very slowly until； after entering the gulf； she was relieved
by tugboats。 Another event of a somewhat different character was the
occasion of much excited feeling and comment； particularly in the United
States。 The descent and attack by British vessels on an Atlantic port was a
matter of popular expectation。 The Syndicate had repellers and crabs at the
most important points； but； in the minds of naval officers and a large
portion of the people； little dependence for defence was to be placed upon
these。 As to the ability of the War Syndicate to prevent invasion or attack
by means of its threats to bombard the blockaded Canadian port； very few
believed in it。 Even if the Syndicate could do any more damage in that
quarter； which was improbable； what was to prevent the British navy from
playing the same game； and entering an American seaport； threaten to
bombard the place if the Syndicate did not immediately run all their queer
vessels high and dry on some convenient beach？ A feeling of indignation
against the Syndicate had existed in the navy from the time that the war
contract had been made； and this feeling increased daily。 That the officers
and men of the United States navy should be penned up in harbours； ports；
and sounds； while British ships and the hulking mine…springers and
rudder…pinchers of the Syndicate were allowed to roam the ocean at will；
was a very hard thing for brave sailors to bear。 Sometimes the resentment
against this state of affairs rose almost to revolt。 The great naval
preparations of England were not yet complete； but single British men…of…
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war were now frequently seen off the Atlantic coast of the United States。
No American vessels had been captured by these since the message of the
Syndicate to the Dominion of Canada and the British Government。 But
one good reason for this was the fact that it was very difficult now to find
upon the Atlantic ocean a vessel sailing under the American flag。 As far as
possible these had taken refuge in their own ports or in those of neutral
countries。 At the mouth of Delaware Bay； behind the great Breakwater；
was now collected a number of coastwise sailing…vessels and steamers of
various classes and sizes； and for the protection of these maritime refugees；
two vessels of the United States navy were stationed at this point。 These
were the Lenox and Stockbridge； two of the finest cruisers in the service；
and commanded by two of the most restless and bravest officers of the
American navy。 The appearance； early on a summer morning； of a large
British cruiser off the mouth of the harbour； filled those two commanders
with uncontrollable belligerency。 That in time of war a vessel of the enemy
should be allowed； undisturbed； to sail up and down before an American
harbour； while an American vessel filled with brave American sailors lay
inside like a cowed dog； was a thought which goaded the soul of each of
these commanders。 There was a certain rivalry between the two ships； and；
considering the insult offered by the flaunting red cross in the offing； and
the humiliating restrictions imposed by the Naval Department； each
commander thought only of his own ship； and not at all of the other。 It was
almost at the same time that the commanders of the two ships separately
came to the conclusion that the proper way to protect the fleet behind the
Breakwater was for his vessel to boldly steam out to sea and attack the
British cruiser。 If this vessel carried a long…range gun； what was to hinder
her from suddenly running in closer and sending a few shells into the
midst of the defenceless merchantmen？ In fact； to go out and fight her was
the only way to protect the lives and property in the harbour。 It was true
that one of those beastly repellers was sneaking about off the cape；
accompanied； probably； by an underwater tongs…boat。 But as neither of
these had done anything； or seemed likely to do anything； the British
cruis