Великий военный синдикат

           Duringthenighttherepellerkeptcompany,althoughataconsiderabledistance,withthecapturedvessel;andearlythenextmorningherdirectorpreparedtosendtotheAdamantaboatwithaflag-of-truce,andaletterdemandingthesurrenderandsubsequentevacuationoftheBritishship.Itwassupposedthatnow,whentheofficersoftheAdamanthadhadtimetoappreciatethefactthattheyhadnocontroloverthemovementsoftheirvessel;thattheirarmamentwaspowerlessagainsttheirenemies;thattheAdamantcouldbetowedwherevertheSyndicatechosetoorder,orlefthelplessinmidocean,—theywouldbeobligedtoadmitthattherewasnothingforthemtodobuttosurrender.ButeventsprovedthatnosuchideashadenteredthemindsoftheAdamant’sofficers,andtheiractiontotallypreventedsendingaflag-of-truceboat.AssoonasitwaslightenoughtoseetherepellertheAdamantbeganfiringgreatgunsather.Shewastoofarawayfortheshottostrikeher,buttolaunchandsendaboatofanykindintoastormofshotandshellwasofcourseimpossible.ThecannonsuspendedoverthesternoftheAdamantwasalsoagainbroughtintoplay,andshotaftershotwasdrivendownuponthetowingcrab.Everyballreboundedfromthespringarmour,buttheofficerinchargeofthecrabbecameconvincedthatafteratimethisconstantpounding,almostinthesameplace,wouldinjurehisvessel,andhesignalledtherepellertothateffect.ThedirectorofRepellerNo.7hadbeenconsideringthesituation.