Великий военный синдикат

           TheabilityoftheSyndicate’ssubmergedvesselstomovesuddenlyandquicklyinanydirectionhadbeenclearlydemonstrated,andalthoughagreatironcladwitharamcouldrundownandsinkacrabwithoutfeelingtheconcussion,itwasknownthatitwouldbeperfectlyeasyforthesmallercrafttokeepoutofthewayofitsbulkyantagonist.ThereforetheAdamantdidnottrytoramthecrabs,nortogetawayfromthem.Hercommanderintended,ifpossible,torundownoneorbothofthem;buthedidnotproposetodothisintheusualway.Asthecrabsapproached,thestern-jacketoftheAdamantwasletdown,andtheengineswereslowed.Thisstern-jacket,whenprotectingtherudderandpropellers,lookedverymuchlikethecowcatcherofalocomotive,andwascapableofbeingputtoasomewhatsimilaruse.ItwastheintentionofthecaptainoftheAdamant,shouldthecrabsattempttoattachthemselvestohisstern,tosuddenlyputonallsteam,reversehisengines,andbackuponthem,thestern-jacketansweringasaram.ThecommanderoftheAdamanthadnodoubtthatinthiswayhecouldrunintoacrab,rollitoverinthewater,andwhenitwaslyingbottomupward,likeafloatingcask,hecouldmovehisshiptoadistance,andmakeatargetofit.Sodesirouswasthisbraveandsomewhatfacetiouscaptaintotryhisnewplanuponacrab,thatheforeboretofireuponthetwovesselsofthatclasswhichwereapproachinghim.Someofhisgunsweresomountedthattheirmuzzlescouldbegreatlydepressed,andaimedatanobjectinthewaternotfarfromtheship.