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sailing…vessels and steamers of various classes and
sizes； and for the protection of these maritime
refugees； two vessels of the United States navy were
stationed at this point。 These were the Lenox and
Stockbridge； two of the finest cruisers in the
service； and commanded by two of the most restless and
bravest officers of the American navy。
The appearance； early on a summer morning； of a
large British cruiser off the mouth of the harbour；
filled those two commanders with uncontrollable
belligerency。 That in time of war a vessel of the
enemy should be allowed； undisturbed； to sail up and
down before an American harbour； while an American
vessel filled with brave American sailors lay inside
like a cowed dog； was a thought which goaded the
soul of each of these commanders。 There was a certain
rivalry between the two ships； and； considering the
insult offered by the flaunting red cross in the
offing； and the humiliating restrictions imposed by the
Naval Department； each commander thought only of his
own ship； and not at all of the other。
It was almost at the same time that the commanders
of the two ships separately came to the conclusion that
the proper way to protect the fleet behind the
Breakwater was for his vessel to boldly steam out to
sea and attack the British cruiser。 If this vessel
carried a long…range gun； what was to hinder her from
suddenly running in closer and sending a few shells
into the midst of the defenceless merchantmen？ In
fact； to go out and fight her was the only way to
protect the lives and property in the harbour。
It was true that one of those beastly repellers was
sneaking about off the cape； accompanied； probably； by
an underwater tongs…boat。 But as neither of these had
done anything； or seemed likely to do anything； the
British cruiser should be attacked without loss of
time。
When the commander of the Lenox came to this
decision； his ship was well abreast of Cape Henlopen；
and he therefore proceeded directly out to sea。 There
was a little fear in his mind that the English cruiser；
which was now bearing to the south…east； might sail off
and get away from him。 The Stockbridge was detained
by the arrival of a despatch boat from the shore with a
message from the Naval Department。 But as this message
related only to the measurements of a certain deck gun；
her commander intended； as soon as an answer could be
sent off； to sail out and give battle to the British
vessel。
Every soul on board the Lenox was now filled with
fiery ardour。 The ship was already in good fighting
trim； but every possible preparation was made for a
contest which should show their country and the world
what American sailors were made of。
The Lenox had not proceeded more than a mile out
to sea； when she perceived Repeller No。 6 coming toward
her from seaward； and in a direction which indicated
that it intended to run across her course。 The
Lenox； however； went straight on； and in a short time
the two vessels were quite near each other。 Upon
the deck of the repeller now appeared the director in
charge； who； with a speaking…trumpet； hailed the
Lenox and requested her to lay to； as he had
something to communicate。 The commander of the
Lenox； through his trumpet； answered that he wanted
no communications； and advised the other vessel to keep
out of his way。
The Lenox now put on a greater head of steam； and
as she was in any case a much faster vessel than the
repeller； she rapidly increased the distance between
herself and the Syndicate's vessel； so that in a few
moments hailing was impossible。 Quick signals now shot
up in jets of black smoke from the repeller； and in a
very short time afterward the speed of the Lenox
slackened so much that the repeller was able to come up
with her。
When the two vessels were abreast of each other；
and at a safe hailing distance apart； another signal
went up from the repeller； and then both vessels almost
ceased to move through the water； although the engines
of the Lenox were working at high speed； with her
propeller…blades stirring up a whirlpool at her stern。
For a minute or two the officers of the Lenox
could not comprehend what had happened。 It was first
supposed that by mistake the engines had been
slackened； but almost at the same moment that it was
found that this was not the case； the discovery was
made that the crab accompanying the repeller had laid
hold of the stern…post of the Lenox； and with all the
strength of her powerful engines was holding her back。
Now burst forth in the Lenox a storm of frenzied
rage； such as was never seen perhaps upon any vessel
since vessels were first built。 From the commander to
the stokers every heart was filled with fury at the
insult which was put upon them。 The commander roared
through his trumpet that if that infernal sea…beetle
were not immediately loosed from his ship he would
first sink her and then the repeller。
To these remarks the director of the Syndicate's
vessels paid no attention； but proceeded to state as
briefly and forcibly as possible that the Lenox had
been detained in order that he might have an
opportunity of speaking with her commander； and of
informing him that his action in coming out of the
harbour for the purpose of attacking a British
vessel was in direct violation of the contract between
the United States and the Syndicate having charge of
the war； and that such action could not be allowed。
The commander of the Lenox paid no more attention
to these words than the Syndicate's director had given
to those he had spoken； but immediately commenced a
violent attack upon the crab。 It was impossible to
bring any of the large guns to bear upon her； for she
was almost under the stern of the Lenox； but every
means of offence which infuriated ingenuity could
suggest was used against it。 Machine guns were trained
to fire almost perpendicularly； and shot after shot was
poured upon that portion of its glistening back which
appeared above the water。
But as these projectiles seemed to have no effect
upon the solid back of Crab H； two great anvils were
hoisted at the end of the spanker…boom； and dropped；
one after the other； upon it。 The shocks were
tremendous； but the internal construction of the crabs
provided； by means of upright beams； against injury
from attacks of this kind； and the great masses of iron
slid off into the sea without doing any damage。
Finding it impossible to make any impression upon
the mailed monster at his stern； the commander of the
Lenox hailed the director of the repeller； and swore
to him through his trumpet that if he did not
immediately order the Lenox to be set free； her
heaviest guns should be brought to bear upon his
floating counting…house； and that it should be sunk； if
it took all day to do it。
It would h