Великий военный синдикат

           Butthebravecaptaindidnotknowthatthecondensed-airchambersofthecrabswouldsupplytheirinmatesforanhourormorewithoutrecoursetotheouterair,andthattheair-pipes,furnishedwithvalvesatthetop,werealwayswithdrawnunderwaterduringactionwithanenemy.Nordidheknowthattheglassblocksunderthearmour-platesofthecrabs,whichwereplacedinrubberframestoprotectthemfromconcussionabove,werealsoguardedbysteelnettingfrominjurybysmallballs.Valiantlytheboatsbesetthecrabs,keepingupaconstantfusillade,andendeavouringtothrowgrapnelsoverthem.Ifoneoftheseshouldcatchunderanoverlappingarmour-plateitcouldbeconnectedwiththesteamwindlassoftheAdamant,andaplatemightberippedofforacraboverturned.Butthecrabsprovedtobemuchmorelivelyfishthantheirenemieshadsupposed.Turning,asifonapivot,anddartingfromsidetoside,theyseemedtobeplayingwiththeboats,andnottryingtogetawayfromthem.ThespringarmourofCrabKinterferedsomewhatwithitsmovements,andalsoputitindangerfromattacksbygrapnels,anditthereforeleftmostoftheworktoitsconsort.CrabJ,afterdartingswiftlyinandoutamongherantagonistsforsometime,suddenlymadeaturn,anddashingatoneoftheboats,ranunderit,andraisingitonitsglisteningback,rolledit,bottomupward,intothesea.Inamomentthecrewoftheboatwereswimmingfortheirlives.Theywerequicklypickedupbytwooftheotherboats,whichthendeemeditprudenttoreturntotheship.