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Chapter 25 — The Grand Lunar
“Itoldthemanironcladcouldfireashotofatontwelvemiles,andgothrough20feetofiron—andhowwecouldsteertorpedoesunderwater.IwentontodescribeaMaximguninaction,andwhatIcouldimagineoftheBattleofColenso.TheGrandLunarwassoincredulousthatheinterruptedthetranslationofwhatIhadsaidinordertohavemyverificationofmyaccount.Theyparticularlydoubtedmydescriptionofthemencheeringandrejoicingastheywentintobattle.
“‘Butsurelytheydonotlikeit!’translatedPhi-oo.
“Iassuredthemmenofmyraceconsideredbattlethemostgloriousexperienceoflife,atwhichthewholeassemblywasstrickenwithamazement.
“‘Butwhatgoodisthiswar?’askedtheGrandLunar,stickingtohistheme.
“‘Oh!asforgood!’saidI;‘itthinsthepopulation!’
“‘Butwhyshouldtherebeaneed—?’
“Therecameapause,thecoolingspraysimpingeduponhisbrow,andthenhespokeagain.”
AtthispointaseriesofundulationsthathavebeenapparentasaperplexingcomplicationasfarbackasCavor’sdescriptionofthesilencethatfellbeforethefirstspeakingoftheGrandLunarbecomeconfusinglypredominantintherecord.Theseundulationsareevidentlytheresultofradiationsproceedingfromalunarsource,andtheirpersistentapproximationtothealternatingsignalsofCavoriscuriouslysuggestiveofsomeoperatordeliberatelyseekingtomixtheminwithhismessageandrenderitillegible.
