Великий военный синдикат

           Untilactionforthisendcouldbetaken,itwasthepartofwisdomfortheBritishnavytoconfineitselftotheprotectionofBritishports.WhenthefleetbegantomovetowardtheIsleofWight,thesixcrabs,whichhadbeenlyingquietlyamongandundertheprotectionoftheirenemies,withdrewsouthward,and,makingaslightcircuit,joinedtherepeller.Eachofthedisabledironcladswasnowintowofasistervessel,oroftugs,excepttheLlangaron.Thisgreatshiphadbeendisabledsoearlyinthecontest,andherbroadsidehadpresentedsuchavastsurfacetothenorth-westwind,thatshehaddriftedmuchfarthertothesouththananyothervessel.Consequently,beforethearrivalofthetugswhichhadbeensentfortotowherintoharbour,theLlangaronwaswellonherwayacrossthechannel.Afoggynightcameon,andthenextmorningshewasashoreonthecoastofFrance,withamileofwaterbetweenheranddryland.Fast-rootedinagreatsand-bank,shelayweekafterweek,withthestormsthatcameinfromtheAtlantic,andthestormsthatcameinfromtheGermanOcean,beatinguponhertallsideofsolidiron,withnomoreeffectthanifithadbeenaprecipiceofrock.Againstwavesandwindssheformedamassivebreakwater,withawidestretchofsmoothseabetweenherandtheland.Thereshelay,proofagainstalltheartilleryofEurope,andalltheartilleryoftheseaandthestorm,untilafleetofsmallvesselshadtakenfromherherponderousarmament,hercoalandstores,andshehadbeenlightenedenoughtofloatuponahightide,andtofollowthreetugstoPortsmouth.