Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/159

Rh tinual shower of wreckage and shot on to the ground below. Far in the rear the admirals of both fleets watched the progress of the fight, directing the movements of the vessels and carefully devising combinations of force which might lead their own ships to victory. For hour after hour the perspiring and weary gunners stood at their guns until they were relieved by others and enabled to retire to rest. But sleep was impossible as long as the strife lasted, for the roar of artillery resounded from end to end of every ship. Wearied, but not conquered, the gunners rose from their beds when their turn came, and returned to their posts ready to conquer or die. But masterly as were the tactics of the Anglo-Saxon admiral, he was gradually being driven into a death-trap by the skilful strategy of the Sirians and their numerically superior forces. Nearly all of his fleet had become collected together between two of Jupiter's moons, and around them as far as the eye 10—2