Великий военный синдикат

           AllthatdaythegreatgunsoftheAdamantcontinuedtoroar.Thenextmorning,however,thefiringwasnotresumed,andtheofficersoftherepellerweregreatlysurprisedtoseeapproachingfromtheBritishshipaboatcarryingawhiteflag.Thiswasaverywelcomesight,andthearrivaloftheboatwasawaitedwitheagerinterest.DuringthenightacouncilhadbeenheldonboardtheAdamant.Hercannonadinghadhadnoeffect,eitherinbringingassistanceorininjuringtheenemy;shewasbeingtowedsteadilysouthwardfartherandfartherfromtheprobableneighbourhoodofaBritishman-of-war;anditwasagreedthatitwouldbethepartofwisdomtocometotermswiththeSyndicate’svessel.ThereforethecaptainoftheAdamantsentalettertotherepeller,inwhichhestatedtothepersonsinchargeofthatship,thatalthoughhisvesselhadbeeninjuredinamannertotallyatvariancewiththerulesofnavalwarfare,hewouldoverlookthisfactandwouldagreetoceasefiringupontheSyndicate’svessels,providedthatthesubmergedcraftwhichwasnowmadefasttohisvesselshouldattachitselftotheAdamant’sbow,andbymeansofasuitablecablewhichshewouldfurnish,wouldtowherintoBritishwaters.Ifthisweredonehewouldguaranteethatthetowingcraftshouldhavesixhoursinwhichtogetaway.Whenthisletterwasreadonboardtherepelleritcreatedconsiderablemerriment,andananswerwassentbackthatnoconditionsbutthoseofabsolutesurrendercouldbereceivedfromtheBritishship.