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hold upon the Adamant and retired a short distance
astern。 Material injury might not have resulted from
the fall of this great mass of metal upon the crab； but
it was considered prudent not to take useless risks。
The officers of the Adamant were greatly
surprised and chagrined by the fall of their gun； with
which they had expected ultimately to pound in the roof
of the crab。 No damage had been done to the vessel
except the removal of a portion of the boom； with some
of the chains and blocks attached； and no one on board
the British ship imagined for a moment that this injury
had been occasioned by the distant repeller。 It was
supposed that the constant firing of the cannon had
cracked the boom； and that it had suddenly snapped。
Even if there had been on board the Adamant the
means for rigging up another arrangement of the kind
for perpendicular artillery practice； it would have
required a long time to get it into working
order； and the director of Repeller No。 7 hoped that
now the British captain would see the uselessness of
continued resistance。
But the British captain saw nothing of the kind；
and shot after shot from his guns were hurled high into
the air； in hopes that the great curves described would
bring some of them down on the deck of the repeller。
If this beastly store…ship； which could stand fire but
never returned it； could be sunk； the Adamant's
captain would be happy。 With the exception of the loss
of her motive power； his vessel was intact； and if the
stupid crab would only continue to keep the Adamant's
head to the sea until the noise of her cannonade should
attract some other British vessel to the scene； the
condition of affairs might be altered。
All that day the great guns of the Adamant
continued to roar。 The next morning； however； the
firing was not resumed； and the officers of the
repeller were greatly surprised to see approaching from
the British ship a boat carrying a white flag。 This
was a very welcome sight； and the arrival of the boat
was awaited with eager interest。
During the night a council had been held on board
the Adamant。 Her cannonading had had no effect；
either in bringing assistance or in injuring the enemy；
she was being towed steadily southward farther and
farther from the probable neighbourhood of a British
man…of…war； and it was agreed that it would be the part
of wisdom to come to terms with the Syndicate's vessel。
Therefore the captain of the Adamant sent a
letter to the repeller； in which he stated to the
persons in charge of that ship； that although his
vessel had been injured in a manner totally at variance
with the rules of naval warfare； he would overlook this
fact and would agree to cease firing upon the
Syndicate's vessels； provided that the submerged craft
which was now made fast to his vessel should attach
itself to the Adamant's bow； and by means of a
suitable cable which she would furnish； would tow her
into British waters。 If this were done he would
guarantee that the towing craft should have six hours
in which to get away。
When this letter was read on board the repeller it
created considerable merriment； and an answer was sent
back that no conditions but those of absolute
surrender could be received from the British ship。
In three minutes after this answer had been
received by the captain of the Adamant； two shells
went whirring and shrieking through the air toward
Repeller No。 7； and after that the cannonading from the
bow； the stern； the starboard； and the port guns of the
great battle…ship went on whenever there was a visible
object on the ocean which looked in the least like an
American coasting vessel or man…of…war。
For a week Crab K towed steadily to the south this
blazing and thundering marine citadel； and then the
crab signalled to the still accompanying repeller that
it must be relieved。 It had not been fitted out for so
long a cruise； and supplies were getting low。
The Syndicate； which had been kept informed of all
the details of this affair； had already perceived the
necessity of relieving Crab K； and another crab； well
provisioned and fitted out； was already on the way to
take its place。 This was Crab C； possessing powerful
engines； but in point of roof armour the weakest of its
class。 It could be better spared than any other crab
to tow the Adamant； and as the British ship had
not； and probably could not； put out another suspended
cannon； it was considered quite suitable for the
service required。
But when Crab C came within half a mile of the
Adamant it stopped。 It was evident that on board the
British ship a steady lookout had been maintained for
the approach of fresh crabs； for several enormous shell
and shot from heavy guns； which had been trained upward
at a high angle； now fell into the sea a short distance
from the crab。
Crab C would not have feared these heavy shot had
they been fired from an ordinary elevation； and
although no other vessel in the Syndicate's service
would have hesitated to run the terrible gauntlet； this
one； by reason of errors in construction； being less
able than any other crab to resist the fall from a
great height of ponderous shot and shell； thought it
prudent not to venture into this rain of iron； and；
moving rapidly beyond the line of danger； it attempted
to approach the Adamant from another quarter。 If it
could get within the circle of falling shot it would be
safe。 But this it could not do。 On all sides of the
Adamant guns had been trained to drop shot and
shells at a distance of half a mile from the ship。
Around and around the mighty ironclad steamed Crab
C； but wherever she went her presence was betrayed to
the fine glasses on board the Adamant by the bit of
her shining back and the ripple about it； and ever
between her and the ship came down that hail of iron in
masses of a quarter ton； half ton； or nearly a whole
ton。 Crab C could not venture under these； and all day
she accompanied the Adamant on her voyage south；
dashing to this side and that； and looking for the
chance that did not come； for all day the cannon of the
battle…ship roared at her wherever she might be。
The inmates of Crab K were now very restive and
uneasy； for they were on short rations； both of food
and water。 They would have been glad enough to cast
loose from the Adamant； and leave the spiteful ship
to roll to her heart's content； broadside to the sea。
They did not fear to run their vessel； with its thick
roofplates protected by spring armour； through the
heaviest cannonade。
But signals from the repeller commanded them to
stay by the Adamant as long as they could hold
out； and they were obliged to content themselves with a
hope that when night fell the other crab would be able
to get in under the stern of the Adamant； and make
the desired exc