Великий военный синдикат

           CrabCwouldnothavefearedtheseheavyshothadtheybeenfiredfromanordinaryelevation;andalthoughnoothervesselintheSyndicate’sservicewouldhavehesitatedtoruntheterriblegauntlet,thisone,byreasonoferrorsinconstruction,beinglessablethananyothercrabtoresistthefallfromagreatheightofponderousshotandshell,thoughtitprudentnottoventureintothisrainofiron;and,movingrapidlybeyondthelineofdanger,itattemptedtoapproachtheAdamantfromanotherquarter.Ifitcouldgetwithinthecircleoffallingshotitwouldbesafe.Butthisitcouldnotdo.OnallsidesoftheAdamantgunshadbeentrainedtodropshotandshellsatadistanceofhalfamilefromtheship.AroundandaroundthemightyironcladsteamedCrabC;butwherevershewentherpresencewasbetrayedtothefineglassesonboardtheAdamantbythebitofhershiningbackandtherippleaboutit;andeverbetweenherandtheshipcamedownthathailofironinmassesofaquarterton,halfton,ornearlyawholeton.CrabCcouldnotventureunderthese,andalldaysheaccompaniedtheAdamantonhervoyagesouth,dashingtothissideandthat,andlookingforthechancethatdidnotcome,foralldaythecannonofthebattle-shiproaredatherwherevershemightbe.TheinmatesofCrabKwerenowveryrestiveanduneasy,fortheywereonshortrations,bothoffoodandwater.TheywouldhavebeengladenoughtocastloosefromtheAdamant,andleavethespitefulshiptorolltoherheart’scontent,broadsidetothesea.