Великий военный синдикат

           Therepellershadneverbeenvesselsofgreatspeed,andtheirpresentarmourofsteelstrips,thelowerportionofwhichwasfrequentlyunderwater,considerablyretardedtheirprogress;buteachofthemwastakenintowbyoneoftheswiftandpowerfulcrabs,andwiththisassistancetheymadeverygoodtime,reachingtheirdestinationonthemorningofthesecondday.Itwasonabreezyday,withacloudysky,andtheseamoderatelysmooth,thatthelittlefleetoftheSyndicatelaytoofftheharbourofoneoftheprincipalCanadianseaports.Aboutfivemilesawaytheheadlandsoneithersideofthemouthoftheharbourcouldbeplainlyseen.IthadbeendecidedthatRepellerNo.1shouldbeginoperations.Accordingly,thatvesselsteamedaboutamilenearertheharbour,accompaniedbyCrabA.Theotherrepellerandcrabremainedintheirfirstposition,readytoactincasetheyshouldbeneeded.Theapproachoftwovessels,evidentlymen-of-war,andcarryingtheAmericanflag,wasperceivedfromthefortsandredoubtsatthemouthoftheharbour,andthenewsquicklyspreadtothecityandtothevesselsinport.Intenseexcitementensuedonlandandwater,amongthecitizensoftheplaceaswellasitsdefenders.Everymanwhohadapostofdutywasinstantlyatit;andinlessthanhalfanhourtheBritishman-of-warScarabaeus,whichhadbeenlyingatanchorashortdistanceoutsidetheharbour,camesteamingouttomeettheenemy.Therewereothernavalvesselsinport,buttheyrequiredmoretimetobeputinreadinessforaction.AssoonastheapproachofScarabaeuswasperceivedbyRepellerNo.