Великий военный синдикат

           Inmanyquarterstheaccountwasdisbelieved,andinnoquarterwasitthoroughlyunderstood,foritmustbeborneinmindthatthemethodsofoperationemployedbythecrabswerenotevidenttothoseonboardthedisabledvessels.Buteverywheretherewasthegreatestdesiretoknowwhatwouldbedonenext.Itwasthegeneralopinionthatthetwoarmouredvesselsweremerelytenderstothesubmergedmachineswhichhaddonethemischief.Havingfirednoguns,nortakenanyactivepartinthecombat,therewaseveryreasontobelievethattheywereintendedmerelyasbomb-proofstore-shipsfortheirformidableconsorts.Asthesesubmergedvesselscouldnotattackatown,norreducefortifications,butcouldexercisetheirpoweronlyagainstvesselsafloat,itwasplainenoughtoseethattheobjectoftheAmericanSyndicatewastoblockadetheport.ThattheywouldbeabletomaintaintheblockadewhenthefullpoweroftheBritishnavyshouldbebroughttobearuponthemwasgenerallydoubted,thoughitwasconcededinthemostwrathfulcirclesthat,untilthesituationshouldbealtered,itwouldbeunwisetoriskvaluablewarvesselsinencounterswiththediabolicalsea-monstersnowlyingofftheport.IntheNewYorkofficeoftheSyndicatetherewasgreatsatisfaction.Thenewsreceivedwasincorrectandimperfect,butitwasevidentthat,sofar,everythinghadgonewell.Aboutnineo’clockthenextmorning,RepellerNo.1,withherconsorthalfamileastern,andprecededbythetwocrabs,oneoneitherbow,approachedtowithintwomilesoftheharbourmouth.