All that day, the public excitement caused by the defiant letter
mounted steadily higher. It was felt both at the White House and at
the Capitol that public opinion absolutely demanded some action. Of
course, it was difficult to do anything. Where could one find this
Master of the World? And even if he were discovered, how could he be
captured? He had at his disposal not only the powers he had
displayed, but apparently still greater resources as yet unknown. How
had he been able to reach Lake Kirdall over the rocks; and how had he
escaped from it? Then, if he had indeed appeared on Lake Superior,
how had he covered all the intervening territory unseen?

What a bewildering affair it was altogether! This, of course, made it
all the more important to get to the bottom of it. Since the millions
of dollars had been refused, force must be employed. The inventor and
his invention were not to be bought. And in what haughty and menacing
terms he had couched his refusal! So be it! He must be treated as an
enemy of society, against whom all means became justified, that he
might be deprived of his power to injure others. The idea that he had
perished was now entirely discarded. He was alive, very much alive;
and his existence constituted a perpetual public danger!

Influenced by these ideas, the government issued the following
proclamation:

"Since the commander of the 'Terror' has refused to make public his
invention, at any price whatever, since the use which he makes of his
machine constitutes a public menace, against which it is impossible
to guard, the said commander of the 'Terror' is hereby placed beyond
the protection of the law. Any measures taken in the effort to
capture or destroy either him or his machine will be approved and