Великий военный синдикат

           Amongthese,goingwestward,weresixcrabs,andthespring-armouredvessel,oncetheTallapoosa,goinghometoatriumphantreception,suchashadneverbeforebeenaccordedtoanyvessel,whetherofwarorpeace.TheblockadeoftheCanadianport,whichhadbeeneffectivelymaintainedwithoutincident,wasnowraised,andtheSyndicate’svesselsproceededtoanAmericanport.TheBritishironclad,Adamant,attheconclusionofpeacewasstillintowofCrabC,andoffthecoastofFlorida.AvesselwassentdownthecoastbytheSyndicatetonotifyCrabCofwhathadoccurred,andtoorderittotowtheAdamanttotheBermudas,andtheredeliverhertotheBritishauthorities.ThevesselsentbytheSyndicate,whichwasafastcoast-steamer,hadscarcelyhoveinsightoftheobjectsofhersearchwhenshewassalutedbyaten-inchshellfromtheAdamant,followedalmostimmediatelybytwoothers.ThecommanderoftheAdamanthadnoideathatthewarwasatanend,andhadneverfailed,duringhisinvoluntarycruise,tofireatanythingwhichboretheAmericanflag,orlookedlikeanAmericancraft.Fortunatelythecoaststeamerwasnotstruck,andatthetopofherspeedretiredtoagreaterdistance,whencetheSyndicateofficeronboardcommunicatedwiththecrabbysmokesignals.DuringthetimeinwhichCrabChadhadchargeoftheAdamantnocommunicationhadtakenplacebetweenthetwovessels.