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to get in under the stern of the Adamant； and make
the desired exchange。
But to the great discomfiture of the Syndicate's
forces； darkness had scarcely come on before four
enormous electric lights blazed high up on the single
lofty mast of the Adamant； lighting up the ocean for
a mile on every side of the ship。 It was of no more
use for Crab C to try to get in now than in broad
daylight； and all night the great guns roared； and the
little crab manoeuvred。
The next morning a heavy fog fell upon the sea； and
the battle…ship and Crab C were completely shut out of
sight of each other。 Now the cannon of the Adamant
were silent； for the only result of firing would be to
indicate to the crab the location of the British ship。
The smoke…signals of the towing crab could not be seen
through the fog by her consorts； and she seemed to be
incapable of making signals by sound。 Therefore the
commander of the Adamant thought it likely that until
the fog rose the crab could not find his ship。
What that other crab intended to do could be； of
course； on board the Adamant； only a surmise； but it
was believed that she would bring with her a torpedo to
be exploded under the British ship。 That one crab
should tow her away from possible aid until another
should bring a torpedo to fasten to her stern…post
seemed a reasonable explanation of the action of the
Syndicate's vessels。
The officers of the Adamant little understood the
resources and intentions of their opponents。 Every
vessel of the Syndicate carried a magnetic indicator；
which was designed to prevent collisions with iron
vessels。 This little instrument was placed at night
and during fogs at the bow of the vessel； and a
delicate arm of steel； which ordinarily pointed upward
at a considerable angle； fell into a horizontal
position when any large body of iron approached within
a quarter of a mile； and； so falling； rang a small
bell。 Its point then turned toward the mass of iron。
Soon after the fog came on； one of these
indicators； properly protected from the attraction of
the metal about it； was put into position on Crab C。
Before very long it indicated the proximity of the
Adamant； and； guided by its steel point； the
Crab moved quietly to the ironclad； attached itself to
its stern…post； and allowed the happy crew of Crab K to
depart coastward。
When the fog rose the glasses of the Adamant
showed the approach of no crab； but it was observed； in
looking over the stern； that the beggarly devil…fish
which had the ship in tow appeared to have made some
change in its back。
In the afternoon of that day a truce boat was sent
from the repeller to the Adamant。 It was allowed to
come alongside； but when the British captain found that
the Syndicate merely renewed its demand for his
surrender； he waxed fiercely angry； and sent the boat
back with the word that no further message need be sent
to him unless it should be one complying with the
conditions he had offered。
The Syndicate now gave up the task of inducing the
captain of the Adamant to surrender。 Crab C was
commanded to continue towing the great ship southward；
and to keep her well away from the coast； in order to
avoid danger to seaport towns and coasting vessels；
while the repeller steamed away。
Week after week the Adamant moved southward；
roaring away with her great guns whenever an American
sail came within possible range； and surrounding
herself with a circle of bursting bombs to let any crab
know what it might expect if it attempted to come near。
Blazing and thundering； stern foremost； but stoutly；
she rode the waves； ready to show the world that she
was an impregnable British battle…ship； from which no
enemy could snatch the royal colours which floated high
above her。
It was during the first week of the involuntary
cruise of the Adamant that the Syndicate finished its
preparations for what it hoped would be the decisive
movement of its campaign。 To do this a repeller and
six crabs； all with extraordinary powers； had been
fitted out with great care； and also with great
rapidity； for the British Government was working night
and day to get its fleet of ironclads in readiness for
a descent upon the American coast。 Many of the British
vessels were already well prepared for ordinary naval
warfare； but to resist crabs additional defences were
necessary。 It was known that the Adamant had been
captured； and consequently the manufacture of
stern…jackets had been abandoned； but it was believed
that protection could be effectually given to rudders
and propeller…blades by a new method which the
Admiralty had adopted。
The repeller which was to take part in the
Syndicate's proposed movement had been a vessel of the
United States navy which for a long time had been out
of commission； and undergoing a course of very slow and
desultory repairs in a dockyard。 She had always been
considered the most unlucky craft in the service； and
nearly every accident that could happen to a ship had
happened to her。 Years and years before； when she
would set out upon a cruise； her officers and crew
would receive the humorous sympathy of their friends；
and wagers were frequently laid in regard to the
different kinds of mishaps which might befall this
unlucky vessel； which was then known as the
Tallapoosa。
The Syndicate did not particularly desire this
vessel； but there was no other that could readily be
made available for its purposes； and accordingly the
Tallapoosa was purchased from the Government and
work immediately begun upon her。 Her engines and
hull were put into good condition； and outside of her
was built another hull； composed of heavy steel armour…
plates； and strongly braced by great transverse beams
running through the ship。
Still outside of this was placed an improved system
of spring armour； much stronger and more effective than
any which had yet been constructed。 This； with the
armour…plate； added nearly fifteen feet to the width of
the vessel above water。 All her superstructures were
removed from her deck； which was covered by a curved
steel roof； and under a bomb…proof canopy at the bow
were placed two guns capable of carrying the largest…
sized motor…bombs。 The Tallapoosa； thus transformed；
was called Repeller No。 11。
The immense addition to her weight would of course
interfere very much with the speed of the new repeller；
but this was considered of little importance； as she
would depend on her own engines only in time of action。
She was now believed to possess more perfect defences
than any battle…ship in the world。
Early on a misty morning； Repeller No。 11； towed by
four of the swiftest and most powerful crabs； and
followed by two others； left a Northern port of the
United States； bound for the coast of Great Britain。
Her course was a ve