Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/214

202 the first month. Then they rushed into the darkness of space, every ship's head being turned in the direction of Sirius, while the sun gradually diminished and faded away like a star. Months rolled by while they dashed along through those dark unknown depths, with no difference between night and day, and nothing to break the dull monotony of the voyage. The propellers flew round and the machinery whirled and sparkled incessantly. And so they dashed on and on, eager to fulfil their mission of vengeance, the gunners lounging round their guns impatient at the delay, and the officers restlessly pacing the decks. Forward and forward they dashed towards the distant star that was growing ever brighter and larger.

'Vengeance! vengeance!' was the cry in the officers' quarters and between the decks, while the soldiers on the transports clashed their arms together in their impatience.