As the pinnace approached, it was seen that the officer in charge of her was Gorondo, Agrando’s generalissimo. A little later he was within speaking distance, and delivered his message, which conveyed to Fumenta two or three pieces of information. The first was that Agrando himself was in command of his fleet; the second, that he had somehow heard of the outlaw’s chief feat—the seizure of the Iraynian squadron; the third, that he was still ignorant of the capture of the fortress. The message itself was a haughty and peremptory demand for immediate and unconditional surrender, the bearer taking the trouble to point out that resistance would be useless, as not only were Agrando’s ships larger and far more numerous than those opposed to him, but another fleet was on its way to join him. Between the two, Fumenta’s position would be hopeless, more especially as he had no power-station to look to to renew his supply of electricity. This last assertion it was which showed that Agrando was unaware of the capture of the fortress. Fumenta did not enlighten him as to this, but contented himself with a refusal to surrender, couched in terms as curt and peremptory as those of the summons. With a shrug of the shoulders and a sarcastic expression of pity for the forthcoming fate of the ’rebels,’ the ambassador returned to his master. Both fleets then began their aerial war manoeuvres. Agrando formed his force into two divisions—not lines, but two planes or tiers, one above the other. Fumenta replied by forming his vessels into three similar divisions; whereupon Agrando altered his formation to four tiers. Each side sent out a number of smaller craft—a kind of mosquito fleet, consisting of different kinds of ’fliers.’ Many of these were parties of boarders, whose duty it would be to watch their opportunities and then swarm round any of the opposing vessels which met with a mishap or got into difficulties. Upon both sides the men had been already provided with ’parachute costumes,’ which would enable them to float in the air for a while in case of disaster to their vessel, and aid them in making a safe descent to the ground. Then a certain number were fitted out with motor-wings, while others again had wings without motors, and all these different classes were organised into separate groupings, just as we divide fighting-men into various classes—such as infantry, cavalry, &c., on land, and sailors, marines, and so on, upon the sea. Agrando sent up first one, then others of his craft, soaring high into the air, with the object of getting above the enemy and dropping down missiles upon them. But even as they mounted above their companion vessels, similar craft were seen rising from the other side to oppose them, and it was between these ’soarers’ that the actual conflict commenced.