Великий военный синдикат

           Thatonecrabshouldtowherawayfrompossibleaiduntilanothershouldbringatorpedotofastentoherstern-postseemedareasonableexplanationoftheactionoftheSyndicate’svessels.TheofficersoftheAdamantlittleunderstoodtheresourcesandintentionsoftheiropponents.EveryvesseloftheSyndicatecarriedamagneticindicator,whichwasdesignedtopreventcollisionswithironvessels.Thislittleinstrumentwasplacedatnightandduringfogsatthebowofthevessel,andadelicatearmofsteel,whichordinarilypointedupwardataconsiderableangle,fellintoahorizontalpositionwhenanylargebodyofironapproachedwithinaquarterofamile,and,sofalling,rangasmallbell.Itspointthenturnedtowardthemassofiron.Soonafterthefogcameon,oneoftheseindicators,properlyprotectedfromtheattractionofthemetalaboutit,wasputintopositiononCrabC.BeforeverylongitindicatedtheproximityoftheAdamant;and,guidedbyitssteelpoint,theCrabmovedquietlytotheironclad,attacheditselftoitsstern-post,andallowedthehappycrewofCrabKtodepartcoastward.WhenthefogrosetheglassesoftheAdamantshowedtheapproachofnocrab,butitwasobserved,inlookingoverthestern,thatthebeggarlydevil-fishwhichhadtheshipintowappearedtohavemadesomechangeinitsback.IntheafternoonofthatdayatruceboatwassentfromtherepellertotheAdamant.