Великий военный синдикат

           InthreeminutesafterthisanswerhadbeenreceivedbythecaptainoftheAdamant,twoshellswentwhirringandshriekingthroughtheairtowardRepellerNo.7,andafterthatthecannonadingfromthebow,thestern,thestarboard,andtheportgunsofthegreatbattle-shipwentonwhenevertherewasavisibleobjectontheoceanwhichlookedintheleastlikeanAmericancoastingvesselorman-of-war.ForaweekCrabKtowedsteadilytothesouththisblazingandthunderingmarinecitadel;andthenthecrabsignalledtothestillaccompanyingrepellerthatitmustberelieved.Ithadnotbeenfittedoutforsolongacruise,andsuppliesweregettinglow.TheSyndicate,whichhadbeenkeptinformedofallthedetailsofthisaffair,hadalreadyperceivedthenecessityofrelievingCrabK,andanothercrab,wellprovisionedandfittedout,wasalreadyonthewaytotakeitsplace.ThiswasCrabC,possessingpowerfulengines,butinpointofroofarmourtheweakestofitsclass.ItcouldbebettersparedthananyothercrabtotowtheAdamant,andastheBritishshiphadnot,andprobablycouldnot,putoutanothersuspendedcannon,itwasconsideredquitesuitablefortheservicerequired.ButwhenCrabCcamewithinhalfamileoftheAdamantitstopped.ItwasevidentthatonboardtheBritishshipasteadylookouthadbeenmaintainedfortheapproachoffreshcrabs,forseveralenormousshellandshotfromheavyguns,whichhadbeentrainedupwardatahighangle,nowfellintotheseaashortdistancefromthecrab.