Великий военный синдикат

           Theseweresignalstothecrabstonotifythemthatamotor-gunhadbeendischarged,andthustoprovideagainstaccidentsincaseabombshouldfailtoact.Onepuffsignifiedthatabombhadbeendischargedtothenorth;two,thatithadgoneeastward;andsoon.If,therefore,acrabshouldseeasignalofthiskind,andperceivenosignsoftheactionofabomb,itwouldbecarefulnottoapproachtherepellerfromthequarterindicated.Itistruethatincaseofthefailureofabombtoact,anotherbombwouldbedroppeduponthesamespot,buttheinstructionsoftheWarSyndicateprovidedthateverypossibleprecautionshouldbetakenagainstaccidents.OfcoursetheVice-Admiraldidnotunderstandthesesignals,nordidheknowthattheyweresignals,butheknewthattheyaccompaniedthedischargeofamotor-gun.Oncehenoticedthattherewasashortcessationinthehithertoconstantsuccessionofwateravalanches,andduringthislullhehadseentwopuffsfromtherepeller,andthedestruction,atthesamemoment,ofthedesertedtorpedo-boat.Itwas,therefore,plainenoughtohimthatifamotor-bombcouldbeplacedsoaccuratelyupononetorpedo-boat,andwithsuchterribleresult,otherbombscouldquiteaseasilybedischargedupontheothertorpedo-boatswhichformedtheadvancedlineofthefleet.Whenthebarrierofstormandcataractagainbegantostretchitselfinfrontoftherepeller,heknewthatnotonlywasitimpossibleforthetorpedo-boatstosendtheirmissivesthroughthisragingturmoil,butthateachofthesevesselswasitselfindangerofinstantaneousdestruction.