Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/199

Rh 'Now, about the size of the ships which are to carry these,' continued the Admiral-in-Chief, while the other officers came crowding round. 'Does it matter how large they are?'

'The smaller they are, the better,' replied the scientist; 'for then they would be less easily noticed by the enemy, and could move about much quicker. Torpedo-boats would be just the thing. If you gave me fifty, I would undertake to destroy or render useless every one of the Sirian ships by the end of a week.'

A murmur of approval ran through the circle of officers when they heard these words.

'One instrument on each torpedo-boat, to be worked by the captain, and a good supply of Ednogen, are all that is necessary,' continued Tarrant. 'I should experiment with one of the torpedo-boats first myself, to see that everything worked properly, and then I should send out the others to work independently.'