Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/99

Rh jectiles. The anticohesion apparatus and the engines for sending waves of force through space were made ready to take their part in the terrible destruction that was about to commence.

The ships that had been sent on in advance soon returned to the main body, and announced that they had had a slight brush with the enemy's cruisers, but without doing or receiving any material damage. A few hours later lights were seen moving across the sky far in front. The fleet was immediately ordered to concentrate, and soon the great battleships were advancing in lines drawn up one above the other and extending many miles. The torpedo-boats flitted hither and thither amongst the larger vessels or were hurrying to the front, eager to try their destructive powers on the enemy. The cruisers were spread out over an area of several miles, examining the strength of the enemy's fleet. Soon long streaks of purple fire, darting about