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stern…post of the Adamant by a pair of towing
nippers。 These were projected from the stern of the
crab； and were so constructed that the larger
vessel did not communicate all its motion to the
smaller one； and could not run down upon it。
As soon as the Adamant was brought up with her
head to the wind she opened fire upon the repeller。
The latter vessel could easily have sailed out of the
range of a motionless enemy； but her orders forbade
this。 Her director had been instructed by the
Syndicate to expose his vessel to the fire of the
Adamant's heavy guns。 Accordingly the repeller
steamed nearer； and turned her broadside toward the
British ship。
Scarcely had this been done when the two great bow
guns of the Adamant shook the air with tremendous
roars； each hurling over the sea nearly a ton of steel。
One of these great shot passed over the repeller； but
the other struck her armoured side fairly amidship。
There was a crash and scream of creaking steel； and
Repeller No。 7 rolled over to windward as if she had
been struck by a heavy sea。 In a moment she righted
and shot ahead； and； turning； presented her port side
to the enemy。 Instant examination of the armour on her
other side showed that the two banks of springs were
uninjured； and that not an air…buffer had exploded
or failed to spring back to its normal length。
Firing from the Adamant now came thick and fast；
the crab； in obedience to signals； turning her about so
as to admit the firing of some heavy guns mounted
amidships。 Three enormous solid shot struck the
repeller at different points on her starboard armour
without inflicting damage； while the explosion of
several shells which hit her had no more effect upon
her elastic armour than the impact of the solid shot。
It was the desire of the Syndicate not only to
demonstrate to its own satisfaction the efficiency of
its spring armour； but to convince Great Britain that
her heaviest guns on her mightiest battle…ships could
have no effect upon its armoured vessels。 To prove the
absolute superiority of their means of offence and
defence was the supreme object of the Syndicate。 For
this its members studied and worked by day and by
night； for this they poured out their millions； for
this they waged war。 To prove what they claimed would
be victory。
When Repeller No。 7 had sustained the heavy fire of
the Adamant for about half an hour； it was
considered that the strength of her armour had been
sufficiently demonstrated； and； with a much lighter
heart than when he had turned her broadside to the
Adamant； her director gave orders that she should
steam out of the range of the guns of the British ship。
During the cannonade Crab J had quietly slipped away
from the vicinity of the Adamant； and now joined the
repeller。
The great ironclad battle…ship； with her lofty
sides plated with nearly two feet of solid steel； with
her six great guns； each weighing more than a hundred
tons； with her armament of other guns； machine cannon；
and almost every appliance of naval warfare； with a
small army of officers and men on board； was left in
charge of Crab K； of which only a few square yards of
armoured roof could be seen above the water。 This
little vessel now proceeded to tow southward her vast
prize； uninjured； except that her rudder and propeller…
blades were broken and useless。
Although the engines of the crab were of enormous
power； the progress made was slow； for the Adamant
was being towed stern foremost。 It would have been
easier to tow the great vessel had the crab been
attached to her bow； but a ram which extended many feet
under water rendered it dangerous for a submerged
vessel to attach itself in its vicinity。
During the night the repeller kept company；
although at a considerable distance； with the captured
vessel； and early the next morning her director
prepared to send to the Adamant a boat with a flag…of…truce；
and a letter demanding the surrender and subsequent
evacuation of the British ship。 It was supposed that
now； when the officers of the Adamant had had time to
appreciate the fact that they had no control over the
movements of their vessel； that their armament was
powerless against their enemies； that the Adamant
could be towed wherever the Syndicate chose to
order； or left helpless in midocean；they would be
obliged to admit that there was nothing for them to do
but to surrender。
But events proved that no such ideas had entered
the minds of the Adamant's officers； and their action
totally prevented sending a flag…of…truce boat。 As
soon as it was light enough to see the repeller the
Adamant began firing great guns at her。 She was too
far away for the shot to strike her； but to launch and
send a boat of any kind into a storm of shot and shell
was of course impossible。
The cannon suspended over the stern of the
Adamant was also again brought into play； and shot
after shot was driven down upon the towing crab。 Every
ball rebounded from the spring armour； but the officer
in charge of the crab became convinced that after a
time this constant pounding； almost in the same place；
would injure his vessel； and he signalled the repeller
to that effect。
The director of Repeller No。 7 had been considering
the situation。 There was only one gun on the Adamant
which could be brought to bear upon Crab K； and it
would be the part of wisdom to interfere with the
persistent use of this gun。 Accordingly the bow of the
repeller was brought to bear upon the Adamant； and
her motor gun was aimed at the boom from which the
cannon was suspended。
The projectile with which the cannon was loaded was
not an instantaneous motor…bomb。 It was simply a heavy
solid shot； driven by an instantaneous motor
attachment； and was thus impelled by the same power and
in the same manner as the motor…bombs。 The
instantaneous motor…power had not yet been used at so
great a distance as that between the repeller and the
Adamant； and the occasion was one of intense interest
to the small body of scientific men having charge of
the aiming and firing。
The calculations of the distance； of the necessary
elevation and direction； and of the degree of motor…
power required； were made with careful exactness； and
when the proper instant arrived the button was touched；
and the shot with which the cannon was charged was
instantaneously removed to a point in the ocean about a
mile beyond the Adamant； accompanied by a large
portion of the heavy boom at which the gun had been
aimed。
The cannon which had been suspended from the end of
this boom fell into the sea； and would have crashed
down upon the roof of Crab K； had not that vessel； in
obedience to a signal from the repeller； loosened its
hold upon the Adamant and retired a short distance
astern。 Material injury might not have result