Certainly, there had been no evidence
that any shots had been fired from them. In the opinion of reasonable
people the destruction of the forts and the explosions in the harbour
had been caused by mines--mines of a new and terrifying power--which
were the work of traitors and confederates. The destruction of the
lighthouse had strengthened this belief, for its fall was similar to
that which would have been occasioned by a great explosion under its
foundation.

But however terrifying and appalling had been the results of the
explosion of these mines, it was not thought probable that there were
any more of them. The explosions had taken place at exposed points
distant from the city, and the most careful investigation failed to
discover any present signs of mining operations.

This theory of mines worked by confederates was received throughout the
civilized world, and was universally condemned. Even in the United
States the feeling was so strong against this apparent alliance between
the Syndicate and British traitors, that there was reason to believe
that a popular pressure would be brought to bear upon the Government
sufficient to force it to break its contract with the Syndicate, and to
carry on the war with the National army and navy. The crab was
considered an admirable addition to the strength of the navy, but a
mine under a fort, laid and fired by perfidious confederates, was
considered unworthy an enlightened people.

The members of the Syndicate now found themselves in an embarrassing
and dangerous position--a position in which they were placed by the
universal incredulity regarding the instantaneous motor; and unless
they could make the world believe that they really used such a
motor-bomb, the war could not be prosecuted on the plan projected.

It was easy enough to convince the enemy of the terrible destruction
the Syndicate was able to effect; but to make that enemy and the world
understand that this was done by bombs, which could be used in one
place as well as another, was difficult indeed. They had attempted to
prove this by announcing that at a certain time a bomb should be
projected into a certain fort. Precisely at the specified time the
fort had been destroyed, but nobody believed that a bomb had been fired.

Every opinion, official or popular, concerning what it had done and
what might be expected of it, was promptly forwarded to the Syndicate
by its agents, and it was thus enabled to see