按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
followed by two others； left a Northern port of the
United States； bound for the coast of Great Britain。
Her course was a very northerly one； for the reason
that the Syndicate had planned work for her to do while
on her way across the Atlantic。
The Syndicate had now determined； without
unnecessarily losing an hour； to plainly demonstrate
the power of the instantaneous motor…bomb。 It had been
intended to do this upon the Adamant； but as it had
been found impossible to induce the captain of that
vessel to evacuate his ship； the Syndicate had declined
to exhibit the efficiency of their new agent of
destruction upon a disabled craft crowded with human
beings。
This course had been highly prejudicial to the
claims of the Syndicate； for as Repeller No。 7 had made
no use in the contest with the Adamant of the motor…
bombs with which she was said to be supplied； it was
generally believed on both sides of the Atlantic that
she carried no such bombs； and the conviction that the
destruction at the Canadian port had been effected by
means of mines continued as strong as it had ever been。
To correct these false ideas was； now the duty of
Repeller No。 11。
For some time Great Britain had been steadily
forwarding troops and munitions of war to Canada；
without interruption from her enemy。 Only once had the
Syndicate's vessels appeared above the Banks of
Newfoundland； and as the number of these peculiar craft
must necessarily be small； it was not supposed that
their line of operations would be extended very far
north； and no danger from them was apprehended；
provided the English vessels laid their courses well to
the north。
Shortly before the sailing of Repeller No。 11； the
Syndicate had received news that one of the largest
transatlantic mail steamers； loaded with troops and
with heavy cannon for Canadian fortifications； and
accompanied by the Craglevin； one of the largest
ironclads in the Royal Navy； had started across the
Atlantic。 The first business of the repeller and her
attendant crabs concerned these two vessels。
Owing to the power and speed of the crabs which
towed her； Repeller No。 11 made excellent time； and on
the morning of the third day out the two British
vessels were sighted。 Somewhat altering their
course the Syndicate's vessels were soon within a few
miles of the enemy。
The Craglevin was a magnificent warship。 She was
not quite so large as the Adamant； and she was
unprovided with a stern…jacket or other defence of the
kind。 In sending her out the Admiralty had designed
her to defend the transport against the regular vessels
of the United States navy； for although the nature of
the contract with the Syndicate was well understood in
England； it was not supposed that the American
Government would long consent to allow their war
vessels to remain entirely idle。
When the captain of the Craglevin perceived the
approach of the repeller he was much surprised； but he
did not hesitate for a moment as to his course。 He
signalled to the transport； then about a mile to the
north； to keep on her way while he steered to meet the
enemy。 It had been decided in British naval circles
that the proper thing to do in regard to a repeller was
to ram her as quickly as possible。 These vessels were
necessarily slow and unwieldy； and if a heavy ironclad
could keep clear of crabs long enough to rush down upon
one； there was every reason to believe that the
〃ball…bouncer；〃 as the repellers were called by British
sailors； could be crushed in below the water…line and
sunk。 So； full of courage and determination； the
captain of the Craglevin bore down upon the repeller。
It is not necessary to enter into details of the
ensuing action。 Before the Craglevin was within half
a mile of her enemy she was seized by two crabs； all of
which had cast loose from the repeller； and in less
than twenty minutes both of her screws were extracted
and her rudder shattered。 In the mean time two of the
swiftest crabs had pursued the transport； and； coming
up with her； one of them had fastened to her rudder；
without； however； making any attempt to injure it。
When the captain of the steamer saw that one of the
sea…devils had him by the stern； while another was near
by ready to attack him； he prudently stopped his
engines and lay to； the crab keeping his ship's head to
the sea。
The captain of the Craglevin was a very different
man from the captain of the Adamant。 He was quite as
brave； but he was wiser and more prudent。 He saw that
the transport had been captured and forced to lay to；
he saw that the repeller mounted two heavy guns at
her bow； and whatever might be the character of those
guns； there could be no reasonable doubt that they were
sufficient to sink an ordinary mail steamer。 His own
vessel was entirely out of his control； and even if he
chose to try his guns on the spring armour of the
repeller； it would probably result in the repeller
turning her fire up on the transport。
With a disabled ship； and the lives of so many men
in his charge； the captain of the Craglevin saw that
it would be wrong for him to attempt to fight； and he
did not fire a gun。 With as much calmness as the
circumstances would permit； he awaited the progress of
events。
In a very short time a message came to him from
Repeller No。 11； which stated that in two hours his
ship would be destroyed by instantaneous motor…bombs。
Every opportunity； however； would be given for the
transfer to the mail steamer of all the officers and
men on board the Craglevin； together with such of
their possessions as they could take with them in that
time。 When this had been done the transport would be
allowed to proceed on her way。
To this demand nothing but acquiescence was
possible。 Whether or not there was such a thing as an
instantaneous motor…bomb the Craglevin's officers did
not know； but they knew that if left to herself their
ship would soon attend to her own sinking； for there
was a terrible rent in her stern； owing to a pitch of
the vessel while one of the propeller…shafts was being
extracted。
Preparations for leaving the ship were； therefore；
immediately begun。 The crab was ordered to release the
mail steamer； which； in obedience to signals from the
Craglevin； steamed as near that vessel as safety
would permit。 Boats were lowered from both ships； and
the work of transfer went on with great activity。
There was no lowering of flags on board the
Craglevin； for the Syndicate attached no importance
to such outward signs and formalities。 If the captain
of the British ship chose to haul down his colours he
could do so； but if he preferred to leave them still
bravely floating above his vessel he was equally
welcome to do that。
When nearly every one had left the Craglevin； a
boat was sent from the rep