Великий военный синдикат

           Machinegunsweretrainedtofirealmostperpendicularly,andshotaftershotwaspoureduponthatportionofitsglisteningbackwhichappearedabovethewater.ButastheseprojectilesseemedtohavenoeffectuponthesolidbackofCrabH,twogreatanvilswerehoistedattheendofthespanker-boom,anddropped,oneaftertheother,uponit.Theshocksweretremendous,buttheinternalconstructionofthecrabsprovided,bymeansofuprightbeams,againstinjuryfromattacksofthiskind,andthegreatmassesofironslidoffintotheseawithoutdoinganydamage.Findingitimpossibletomakeanyimpressionuponthemailedmonsterathisstern,thecommanderoftheLenoxhailedthedirectoroftherepeller,andsworetohimthroughhistrumpetthatifhedidnotimmediatelyordertheLenoxtobesetfree,herheaviestgunsshouldbebroughttobearuponhisfloatingcounting-house,andthatitshouldbesunk,ifittookalldaytodoit.ItwouldhavebeenagrimsatisfactiontothecommanderoftheLenoxtosinkRepellerNo.6,forheknewthevesselwhenshehadbelongedtotheUnitedStatesnavy.BeforeshehadbeenboughtbytheSyndicate,andfittedoutwithspringarmour,hehadmadetwolongcruisesinher,andhebitterlyhatedher,fromherkeelup.ThedirectoroftherepelleragreedtoreleasetheLenoxtheinstanthercommanderwouldconsenttoreturntoport.Noanswerwasmadetothisproposition,butadynamitegunontheLenoxwasbroughttobearupontheSyndicate’svessel.