Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/206

194 crew died away, for they did not understand the working of this new implement of war; but a moment afterwards they were undeceived. The great battleship began to descend rapidly towards the earth; then it fell faster and faster, and crashed against the ground with terrific force, making a noise like an explosion, and lay inert on the ground.

'There!' exclaimed Tarrant, as he looked round at the group of astonished officers and men. 'What do you think of that? The Scorpion can sting from some distance. There is not a person left alive on that ship now.'

There was a tremendous burst of cheering as a reply; then the captain moved the starting-lever, and the torpedo-boat started again on its errand of destruction. Another Sirian ship was soon found and destroyed in the same manner, and another after that, until the Scorpion had hurled altogether twelve to the earth. Some fell down and were simply crushed, others blew