Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/179

them. The Sirian ships retreated to the main body, and others came to take their places, but the Anglo-Saxons could not do this. At last the men were so overpowered that many of the ships could hold out no longer. This was notified to the admiral, and he telegraphed to the headquarters at London for orders. At last a retreat to the earth was ordered, and the remnants of the Anglo-Saxon fleet proceeded to London to join the fourth line of defence. But they had fought bravely and well, for they had destroyed more than double their number of the Sirian ships. The Sirians delayed at the moon for some days to reorganize their fleets and arrange their plans for the future; then they dashed across the intervening space, and prepared to break down the last line of defence that was left to the Anglo-Saxons.