Великий военный синдикат

           7hadsustainedtheheavyfireoftheAdamantforabouthalfanhour,itwasconsideredthatthestrengthofherarmourhadbeensufficientlydemonstrated;and,withamuchlighterheartthanwhenhehadturnedherbroadsidetotheAdamant,herdirectorgaveordersthatsheshouldsteamoutoftherangeofthegunsoftheBritishship.DuringthecannonadeCrabJhadquietlyslippedawayfromthevicinityoftheAdamant,andnowjoinedtherepeller.Thegreatironcladbattle-ship,withherloftysidesplatedwithnearlytwofeetofsolidsteel,withhersixgreatguns,eachweighingmorethanahundredtons,withherarmamentofotherguns,machinecannon,andalmosteveryapplianceofnavalwarfare,withasmallarmyofofficersandmenonboard,wasleftinchargeofCrabK,ofwhichonlyafewsquareyardsofarmouredroofcouldbeseenabovethewater.Thislittlevesselnowproceededtotowsouthwardhervastprize,uninjured,exceptthatherrudderandpropeller-bladeswerebrokenanduseless.Althoughtheenginesofthecrabwereofenormouspower,theprogressmadewasslow,fortheAdamantwasbeingtowedsternforemost.Itwouldhavebeeneasiertotowthegreatvesselhadthecrabbeenattachedtoherbow,butaramwhichextendedmanyfeetunderwaterrendereditdangerousforasubmergedvesseltoattachitselfinitsvicinity.