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in the last few years regained its supremacy among the nations； and which
had made Great Britain once more the first maritime power in the world？
The crabs might disable some men…of…war； the repeller might make her
calculations and discharge her bomb at a ship or a fort； but what would the
main body of the navy be doing meanwhile？ Overwhelming； crushing； and
sinking to the bottom crabs； repeller； motor guns； and everything that
belonged to them。 In England there was a feeling of strong resentment that
such a little fleet should be allowed to sail with such intent into British
waters。 This resentment extended itself； not only to the impudent
Syndicate； but toward the Government； and the opposition party gained
daily in strength。 The opposition papers had been loud and reckless in
their denunciations of the slowness and inadequacy of the naval
preparations； and loaded the Government with the entire responsibility； not
only of the damage which had already been done to the forts； the ships；
and the prestige of Great Britain； but also for the threatened danger of a
sudden descent of the Syndicate's fleet upon some unprotected point upon
the coast。 This fleet should never have been allowed to approach within a
thousand miles of England。 It should have been sunk in mid…ocean； if its
sinking had involved the loss of a dozen men…of…war。 In America a very
strong feeling of dissatisfaction showed itself。 From the first； the
Syndicate contract had not been popular； but the quick； effective； and
business…like action of that body of men； and the marked success up to this
time of their inventions and their operations； had caused a great reaction in
their favour。 They had； so far； successfully defended the American coast；
and when they had increased the number of their vessels； they would have
been relied upon to continue that defence。 Even if a British armada had set
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out to cross the Atlantic； its movements must have been slow and
cumbrous； and the swift and sudden strokes with which the Syndicate
waged war could have been given by night and by day over thousands of
miles of ocean。 Whether or not these strokes would have been quick
enough or hard enough to turn back an armada might be a question； but
there could be no question of the suicidal policy of sending seven ships
and two cannon to conquer England。 It seemed as if the success of the
Syndicate had so puffed up its members with pride and confidence in their
powers that they had come to believe that they had only to show
themselves to conquer； whatever might be the conditions of the contest。
The destruction of the Syndicate's fleet would now be a heavy blow to the
United States。 It would produce an utter want of confidence in the councils
and judgments of the Syndicate； which could not be counteracted by the
strongest faith in the efficiency of their engines of war； and it was feared it
might become necessary； even at this critical juncture； to annul the
contract with the Syndicate； and to depend upon the American navy for the
defence of the American coast。 Even among the men on board the
Syndicate's fleet there were signs of doubt and apprehensions of evil。 It
had all been very well so far； but fighting one ship at a time was a very
different thing from steaming into the midst of a hundred ships。 On board
the repeller there was now an additional reason for fears and misgivings。
The unlucky character of the vessel when it had been the Tallapoosa was
known； and not a few of the men imagined that it must now be time for
some new disaster to this ill…starred craft； and if her evil genius had
desired fresh disaster for her； it was certainly sending her into a good place
to look for it。 But the Syndicate neither doubted nor hesitated nor paid any
attention to the doubts and condemnations which they heard from every
quarter。 Four days after the news of the destruction of the Craglevin had
been telegraphed from Canada to London； the Syndicate's fleet entered the
English Channel。 Owing to the power and speed of the crabs； Repeller No。
11 had made a passage of the Atlantic which in her old naval career would
have been considered miraculous。 Craft of various kinds were now passed；
but none of them carried the British flag。 In the expectation of the arrival
of the enemy； British merchantmen and fishing vessels had been advised
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to keep in the background until the British navy had concluded its business
with the vessels of the American Syndicate。 As has been said before； the
British Admiralty had adopted a new method of defence for the rudders
and screw…propellers of naval vessels against the attacks of submerged
craft。 The work of constructing the new appliances had been pushed
forward as fast as possible； but so far only one of these had been finished
and attached to a man…of…war。 The Llangaron was a recently built ironclad
of the same size and class as the Adamant； and to her had been attached
the new stern…defence。 This was an immense steel cylinder； entirely closed；
and rounded at the ends。 It was about ten feet in diameter； and strongly
braced inside。 It was suspended by chains from two davits which projected
over the stern of the vessel。 When sailing this cylinder was hoisted up to
the davits； but when the ship was prepared for action it was lowered until
it lay； nearly submerged； abaft of the rudder。 In this position its ends
projected about fifteen feet on either side of the propeller…blades。 It was
believed that this cylinder would effectually prevent a crab from getting
near enough to the propeller or the rudder to do any damage。 It could not
be torn away as the stern…jacket had been； for the rounded and smooth
sides and ends of the massive cylinder would offer no hold to the forceps
of the crabs； and； approaching from any quarter； it would be impossible
for these forceps to reach rudder or screw。 The Syndicate's little fleet
arrived in British waters late in the day； and early the next morning it
appeared about twenty miles to the south of the Isle