Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/219

Rh war. The forts kept up a desultory fire, but they could do little damage to the fleets that floated in the air far above their heads. Almost invisible, the ships went hither and thither, and, whenever they saw a group of inhabitants or buildings, a shell was hurled down into the midst of them. But the people soon had enough of the slaughter and destruction, which they had no means whatever of preventing, for they had been taken totally unawares, and so the Government sent envoys demanding conditions of surrender. The Admiral-in-Chief replied that they must surrender unconditionally. This demand was complied with after much debating.

The Anglo-Saxon fleets now descended to the ground, and the soldiers were disembarked from the transports, accompanied by all the panoply of war, to take possession of the cities and forts. Meanwhile the commanders and diplomatists of both sides met to discuss the question of peace.