Великий военный синдикат

           Inthemeantimetwooftheswiftestcrabshadpursuedthetransport,and,comingupwithher,oneofthemhadfastenedtoherrudder,without,however,makinganyattempttoinjureit.Whenthecaptainofthesteamersawthatoneofthesea-devilshadhimbythestern,whileanotherwasnearbyreadytoattackhim,heprudentlystoppedhisenginesandlayto,thecrabkeepinghisship’sheadtothesea.ThecaptainoftheCraglevinwasaverydifferentmanfromthecaptainoftheAdamant.Hewasquiteasbrave,buthewaswiserandmoreprudent.Hesawthatthetransporthadbeencapturedandforcedtolayto;hesawthattherepellermountedtwoheavygunsatherbow,andwhatevermightbethecharacterofthoseguns,therecouldbenoreasonabledoubtthattheyweresufficienttosinkanordinarymailsteamer.Hisownvesselwasentirelyoutofhiscontrol,andevenifhechosetotryhisgunsonthespringarmouroftherepeller,itwouldprobablyresultintherepellerturningherfireuponthetransport.Withadisabledship,andthelivesofsomanymeninhischarge,thecaptainoftheCraglevinsawthatitwouldbewrongforhimtoattempttofight,andhedidnotfireagun.Withasmuchcalmnessasthecircumstanceswouldpermit,heawaitedtheprogressofevents.InaveryshorttimeamessagecametohimfromRepellerNo.11,whichstatedthatintwohourshisshipwouldbedestroyedbyinstantaneousmotor-bombs.