Великий военный синдикат

           Theydidnotfeartoruntheirvessel,withitsthickroofplatesprotectedbyspringarmour,throughtheheaviestcannonade.ButsignalsfromtherepellercommandedthemtostaybytheAdamantaslongastheycouldholdout,andtheywereobligedtocontentthemselveswithahopethatwhennightfelltheothercrabwouldbeabletogetinunderthesternoftheAdamant,andmakethedesiredexchange.ButtothegreatdiscomfitureoftheSyndicate’sforces,darknesshadscarcelycomeonbeforefourenormouselectriclightsblazedhighuponthesingleloftymastoftheAdamant,lightinguptheoceanforamileoneverysideoftheship.ItwasofnomoreuseforCrabCtotrytogetinnowthaninbroaddaylight;andallnightthegreatgunsroared,andthelittlecrabmanoeuvred.Thenextmorningaheavyfogfelluponthesea,andthebattle-shipandCrabCwerecompletelyshutoutofsightofeachother.NowthecannonoftheAdamantweresilent,fortheonlyresultoffiringwouldbetoindicatetothecrabthelocationoftheBritishship.Thesmoke-signalsofthetowingcrabcouldnotbeseenthroughthefogbyherconsorts,andsheseemedtobeincapableofmakingsignalsbysound.ThereforethecommanderoftheAdamantthoughtitlikelythatuntilthefogrosethecrabcouldnotfindhisship.Whatthatothercrabintendedtodocouldbe,ofcourse,onboardtheAdamant,onlyasurmise;butitwasbelievedthatshewouldbringwithheratorpedotobeexplodedundertheBritishship.