Великий военный синдикат

           ThelengthandfrequencyofthesejetswereregulatedbyaninstrumentintheDirector’sroom.Thus,bymeansoflongandshortpuffs,withtheproperuseofintervals,amessagecouldbeprojectedintotheairasatelegraphicinstrumentwouldmarkituponpaper.InthismannerCrabAwasorderedtoimmediatelyproceedtotheattackoftheScarabaeus.Thealmostsubmergedvesselsteamedrapidlyfrombehindherconsort,andmadefortheBritishman-of-war.Whenthelattervesselperceivedtheapproachofthisturtle-backedobject,squirtinglittlejetsofblacksmokeassherepliedtotheordersfromtherepeller,therewasgreatamazementonboard.Thecrabhadnotbeenseenbefore,butasitcamerapidlyontherewasnotimeforcuriosityordiscussion,andseveralheavygunswerebroughttobearuponit.Itwasdifficulttohitarapidlymovingflatobjectscarcelyabovethesurfaceofthewater;andalthoughseveralshotstruckthecrab,theyglancedoffwithoutintheleastinterferingwithitsprogress.CrabAsooncamesoneartheScarabaeusthatitwasimpossibletodepressthegunsofthelattersoastostrikeher.Thegreatvesselwas,therefore,headedtowarditsassailant,andunderafullheadofsteamdasheddirectlyatittorunitdown.Butthecrabcouldturnasuponapivot,andshootingtoonesideallowedthesurgingman-of-wartopassit.Perceivinginstantlythatitwouldbedifficulttostrikethisnimbleandalmostsubmergedadversary,thecommanderoftheScarabaeusthoughtitwelltoletitaloneforthepresent,andtobeardownwithallspeedupontherepeller.