Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/204

192 destroy the Sirian ships without any unnecessary loss.

Meanwhile the ship sped rapidly on, and daylight returned. A few hours after sunrise the Atlantic was crossed, and then the captain let the ship down on to a small uninhabited island off the coast of America, so that it might lie hid during the daytime, for the scouts had brought news that hostile ships infested these parts. Many a mind cursed the tedious hours of the day, and many an anxious eye watched the passage of the sun through the heavens. At last night came, and the ship sped forward again, taking care, however, not to run into the enemy. An hour after dawn it was let slowly down on to the ground at the entrance to the Kentucky cavern.

Tarrant showed his commission to the commanding officer, and immediate preparations were made to get the fleet of torpedo-boats ready for action. An Electro-Ednogen instrument was fitted on to each