Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/53

Rh their powerful interstellar ships frequently brought the two parties into contact. Moreover, a mutual rapacity and greed caused the two parties to regard one another with no favourable eye.

Much secret anger was felt by the people of Kairet at their not having been the first to discover and annex such a valuable planet, and they secretly instructed their own colonists not to give way in any particular to their more fortunate rivals. War-ships were even quietly despatched, and hidden away immediately on their arrival in case they might be wanted.

Things went on in this manner for some time, but at last the rivalries of the two nations came to a climax. The men who held command of both parties at Iosia were impetuous and greedy, and could not bear to give up any advantages of locality or products to their rivals. Those under them followed their example and instructions, and soon both parties became