Великий военный синдикат

           Alighthouse,theoccupantsofwhichhadbeenorderedtoleavewhenthefortwasevacuated,astheymightbeindangerincaseofabombardment,wassoshakenbytheexplosionofthismotor-bombthatitfellinruinsontherocksuponwhichithadstood.Thetwocrabsnowtookthesteelnetfromitsmooringsandcarriedituptheharbour.Thiswasratherdifficultonaccountoftheislands,rocks,andsand-bars;buttheleadingcrabhadonboardapilotacquaintedwiththosewaters.Withthenethangingbetweenthem,thetwosubmergedvessels,onecarefullyfollowingtheother,reachedapointabouttwomilesbelowthecity,wherethenetwasanchoredacrosstheharbour.Itdidnotreachfromshoretoshore,butinthecourseofthemorningtwoothernets,designedforshallowerwaters,werebroughtfromtherepellersandanchoredateachendofthemainnet,thusformingalineofcompleteprotectionagainstsubmarinetorpedoeswhichmightbesentdownfromtheupperharbour.RepellerNo.1nowsteamedintotheharbour,accompaniedbyCrabA,andanchoredaboutaquarterofamileseawardofthenet.Theotherrepeller,withherattendantcrab,cruisedaboutthemouthoftheharbour,watchingasmallerentrancetotheportaswellasthelargerone,andthusmaintaininganeffectiveblockade.