Великий военный синдикат

           ScarcelyhadthisbeendonewhenthetwogreatbowgunsoftheAdamantshooktheairwithtremendousroars,eachhurlingovertheseanearlyatonofsteel.Oneofthesegreatshotpassedovertherepeller,buttheotherstruckherarmouredsidefairlyamidship.Therewasacrashandscreamofcreakingsteel,andRepellerNo.7rolledovertowindwardasifshehadbeenstruckbyaheavysea.Inamomentsherightedandshotahead,and,turning,presentedherportsidetotheenemy.Instantexaminationofthearmouronherothersideshowedthatthetwobanksofspringswereuninjured,andthatnotanair-bufferhadexplodedorfailedtospringbacktoitsnormallength.FiringfromtheAdamantnowcamethickandfast,thecrab,inobediencetosignals,turningheraboutsoastoadmitthefiringofsomeheavygunsmountedamidships.Threeenormoussolidshotstrucktherepelleratdifferentpointsonherstarboardarmourwithoutinflictingdamage,whiletheexplosionofseveralshellswhichhitherhadnomoreeffectuponherelasticarmourthantheimpactofthesolidshot.ItwasthedesireoftheSyndicatenotonlytodemonstratetoitsownsatisfactiontheefficiencyofitsspringarmour,buttoconvinceGreatBritainthatherheaviestgunsonhermightiestbattle-shipscouldhavenoeffectuponitsarmouredvessels.ToprovetheabsolutesuperiorityoftheirmeansofoffenceanddefencewasthesupremeobjectoftheSyndicate.Forthisitsmembersstudiedandworkedbydayandbynight;forthistheypouredouttheirmillions;forthistheywagedwar.Toprovewhattheyclaimedwouldbevictory.WhenRepellerNo.