Великий военный синдикат

           ButthesecondofficeroftheAdamant,whocommandedthefourthboat,didnotgiveupthefight.HavingnotedthespringarmourofCrabK,hebelievedthatifhecouldgetagrapnelbetweenitssteelribsheyetmightcapturethesea-monster.ForsomeminutesCrabKcontenteditselfwitheludinghim;but,tiredofthis,itturned,andraisingitshugenippersalmostoutofthewater,itseizedthebowoftheboat,andgaveitagentlecrunch,afterwhichitreleaseditsholdandretired.Theboat,leakingrapidlythroughtworaggedholes,wasrowedbacktotheship,whichitreachedhalffullofwater.Thegreatbattle-ship,totallybereftofthepowerofmovingherself,wasnowrollinginthetroughofthesea,andasignalcamefromtherepellerforCrabKtomakefasttoherandputherheadtothewind.Thiswasquicklydone,thecrabattachingitselftothestern-postoftheAdamantbyapairoftowingnippers.Thesewereprojectedfromthesternofthecrab,andweresoconstructedthatthelargervesseldidnotcommunicateallitsmotiontothesmallerone,andcouldnotrundownuponit.AssoonastheAdamantwasbroughtupwithherheadtothewindsheopenedfireupontherepeller.Thelattervesselcouldeasilyhavesailedoutoftherangeofamotionlessenemy,butherordersforbadethis.HerdirectorhadbeeninstructedbytheSyndicatetoexposehisvesseltothefireoftheAdamant’sheavyguns.Accordinglytherepellersteamednearer,andturnedherbroadsidetowardtheBritishship.