Великий военный синдикат

           Everyopportunity,however,wouldbegivenforthetransfertothemailsteamerofalltheofficersandmenonboardtheCraglevin,togetherwithsuchoftheirpossessionsastheycouldtakewiththeminthattime.Whenthishadbeendonethetransportwouldbeallowedtoproceedonherway.Tothisdemandnothingbutacquiescencewaspossible.Whetherornottherewassuchathingasaninstantaneousmotor-bombtheCraglevin’sofficersdidnotknow;buttheyknewthatiflefttoherselftheirshipwouldsoonattendtoherownsinking,fortherewasaterriblerentinherstern,owingtoapitchofthevesselwhileoneofthepropeller-shaftswasbeingextracted.Preparationsforleavingtheshipwere,therefore,immediatelybegun.Thecrabwasorderedtoreleasethemailsteamer,which,inobediencetosignalsfromtheCraglevin,steamedasnearthatvesselassafetywouldpermit.Boatswereloweredfrombothships,andtheworkoftransferwentonwithgreatactivity.TherewasnoloweringofflagsonboardtheCraglevin,fortheSyndicateattachednoimportancetosuchoutwardsignsandformalities.IfthecaptainoftheBritishshipchosetohauldownhiscolourshecoulddoso;butifhepreferredtoleavethemstillbravelyfloatingabovehisvesselhewasequallywelcometodothat.WhennearlyeveryonehadlefttheCraglevin,aboatwassentfromtherepeller,whichlaynearby,withanoterequestingthecaptainandfirstofficeroftheBritishshiptocomeonboardRepellerNo.11andwitnessthemethodofdischargingtheinstantaneousmotor-bomb,afterwhichtheywouldbeputonboardthetransport.