rising to a considerable elevation in order that there might be no risk of being seen , we began our flank movement while the remaining ships , in accordance with the understanding , dropped nearer the curtain of cloud and commenced a bombardment with the disintegrators , which caused a tremendous commotion in the clouds , opening vast gaps in them , and occasionally revealing a glimpse of the electric lights on the planet , although it was evident that the vibratory currents did not reach the ground .