Великий военный синдикат

           Underthesethunderingcataracts,borninaninstant,andcomingdownallatonceinaplungingstorm;intotheseabysses,withwallsofwaterandfloorsofcleftandshiveredrocks;throughthiswidebeltofragingturmoil,thrownintonewfrenzyafterthedischargeofeverybomb,—novessel,notorpedo,couldpass.Theairdrivenoffineverydirectionbytremendousandsuccessiveconcussionscamerushingbackinshriekinggales,whichtoreupthewavesintoblindingfoam.Formilesineverydirectiontheseaswelledandupheavedintogreatpeakedwaves,therepellerrisinguponthesealmosthighenoughtolookdownintotheawfulchasmswhichherbombsweremaking.Atorpedo-boatcaughtinoneofthereturninggaleswashurledforwardalmostonherbeamendsuntilshewasundertheedgeofoneofthevastmassesofdescendingwater.Thefloodwhich,fromeventheouterlimitsofthisfalling-sea,poureduponandintotheunluckyvesselnearlyswampedher,andwhenshewassweptbackbytherushingwavesintolessstormywaters,herofficersandcrewleapedintotheirboatsanddesertedher.Byraregood-fortunetheirboatswerekeptafloatintheturbulentseauntiltheyreachedthenearesttorpedo-vessel.Fiveminutesafterwardasmallbutcarefullyaimedmotor-bombstruckthenearlyswampedvessel,andwiththeroarofallherowntorpedoesshepassedintonothing.TheBritishVice-Admiralhadcarefullywatchedtherepellerthroughhisglass,andhenoticedthatsimultaneouslywiththeappearanceofthecloudintheairproducedbytheactionofthemotor-bombsthereweretwopuffsofblacksmokefromtherepeller.