CHAPTER VI
First Appearance of the Enemy
As soon as the fleet was fairly launched into space the torpedo-nets were let down, in case the ships might come into contact with any of the enemy's swift cruisers. As they got further away from Neptune, the sun gradually became smaller and its light fainter, until at last all the vessels were obliged to turn on their searchlights to enable them to avoid colliding with one another. They directed their course straight for Sirius, as it was presumed that the enemy would probably steer for the Solar System, and so they would be likely to run straight into them. The speed became faster and faster, until at last it was terrific. Many an anxious captain
