Великий военный синдикат

           Intenminutesafterward,theLlangaron,rudderless,andwiththebladesofherpropellersshiveredandcrushed,wasslowlyturningherstarboardtothewindandthesea,andbeginningtorolllikealogofeightthousandtons.BesidestheLlangaron,threeironcladswerenowdriftingbroadsidetothesea.Buttherewasnotimetosuccourdisabledvessels,fortherestofthefleetwascomingon,andtherewasgreatworkforthecrabs.Againsttheseenemies,swiftofmotionandsuddeninaction,thetorpedo-boatsfounditalmostimpossibletooperate,fortheBritishshipsandthecrabsweresorapidlynearingeachotherthatatorpedosentoutagainstanenemywasmorethanlikelytorunagainstthehullofafriend.Eachcrabspedatthetopofitsspeedforaship,notonlytoattack,butalsotoprotectitself.Onceonlydidthecrabsgivethetorpedo-boatsachance.Amileortwonorthofthesceneofaction,alargecruiserwasmakingherwayrapidlytowardtherepeller,whichwasstilllyingalmostmotionless,fourmilestothewestward.Asitwashighlyprobablethatthisvesselcarrieddynamiteguns,CrabQ,whichwasthefastestofherclass,wassignalledtogoafterher.Shehadscarcelybegunhercourseacrosstheopenspaceofseabeforeatorpedo-boatwasinpursuit.Fastaswasthelatter,thecrabwasfaster,andquiteaseasilymanaged.Shewasinapositionofgreatdanger,andheronlysafetylayinkeepingherselfonalinebetweenthetorpedo-boatandthegun-boat,andtoshortenasquicklyaspossiblethedistancebetweenherselfandthatvessel.