the great war syndicate-µÚ12½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
would¡¡necessitate¡¡the¡¡withdrawal¡¡of¡¡a¡¡crab¡¡from¡¡action¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
In¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡were
vulnerable¡¡between¡¡their¡¡overlapping¡¡plates£»¡¡some¡¡of
the¡¡Adamant's¡¡boats¡¡were¡¡fitted¡¡out¡¡with¡¡Gatling¡¡and
machine¡¡guns£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡a¡¡shower¡¡of¡¡balls¡¡might¡¡be¡¡sent
under¡¡the¡¡scales£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡glasses£»¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the
body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crab¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡their¡¡guns£»¡¡these
boats¡¡would¡¡be¡¡supplied¡¡with¡¡other¡¡means¡¡of¡¡attack¡¡upon
the¡¡crab¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
Of¡¡course¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡these
submerged¡¡enemies¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡dynamite¡¡or¡¡torpedoes£»
for¡¡with¡¡two¡¡vessels¡¡in¡¡close¡¡proximity£»¡¡the¡¡explosion
of¡¡a¡¡torpedo¡¡would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡dangerous¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hull¡¡of¡¡one
as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡British¡¡Admiralty¡¡would¡¡not¡¡allow
even¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡to¡¡explode¡¡torpedoes¡¡or¡¡dynamite
under¡¡her¡¡own¡¡stern¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
With¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡a¡¡repeller£»¡¡or¡¡spring¡armoured
vessel£»¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡would¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡exceptionally
powerful¡¡armament£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡great¡¡weight¡¡and¡¡speed¡£¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡fitted¡¡with¡¡twin¡¡screws¡¡and¡¡engines¡¡of¡¡the
highest¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be
able¡¡to¡¡overhaul£»¡¡ram£»¡¡and¡¡crush¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡vessel
armoured¡¡or¡¡unarmoured¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡would¡¡be
able¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡against¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡her¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡of
immense¡¡calibre£»¡¡firing¡¡shot¡¡weighing¡¡nearly¡¡two
thousand¡¡pounds£»¡¡and¡¡requiring¡¡half¡¡a¡¡ton¡¡of¡¡powder¡¡for
each¡¡charge¡£¡¡¡¡Besides¡¡these¡¡she¡¡carried¡¡an¡¡unusually
large¡¡number¡¡of¡¡large¡¡cannon¡¡and¡¡two¡¡dynamite¡¡guns¡£¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡so¡¡heavily¡¡plated¡¡and¡¡armoured¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡proof
against¡¡any¡¡known¡¡artillery¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡floating¡¡fortress£»¡¡with¡¡men¡¡enough¡¡to
make¡¡up¡¡the¡¡population¡¡of¡¡a¡¡town£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡stores£»
ammunition£»¡¡and¡¡coal¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡last¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡term
of¡¡active¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡English¡¡battle¡
ship¡¡which¡¡had¡¡come¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡siege¡¡of¡¡the
Canadian¡¡port¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡were¡¡well¡¡aware¡¡of
the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡her¡¡armament¡¡and¡¡her
defences£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡informed¡¡by¡¡cable¡¡of¡¡her¡¡time¡¡of
sailing¡¡and¡¡probable¡¡destination¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡sent¡¡out
Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡7£»¡¡with¡¡Crabs¡¡J¡¡and¡¡K£»¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡her¡¡off¡¡the
Banks¡¡of¡¡Newfoundland¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
This¡¡repeller¡¡was¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡and¡¡strongest¡¡vessel
that¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡had¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡addition
to¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡armour¡¡with¡¡which¡¡these¡¡vessels¡¡were
supplied£»¡¡this¡¡one¡¡was¡¡furnished¡¡with¡¡a¡¡second¡¡coat¡¡of
armour¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡the¡¡elastic¡¡steel¡¡ribs¡¡of
which¡¡ran¡¡longitudinally¡¡and¡¡at¡¡right¡¡angles¡¡to¡¡those
of¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡set¡£¡¡¡¡Both¡¡coats¡¡were¡¡furnished¡¡with¡¡a
great¡¡number¡¡of¡¡improved¡¡air¡buffers£»¡¡and¡¡the
arrangement¡¡of¡¡spring¡¡armour¡¡extended¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six¡¡feet
beyond¡¡the¡¡massive¡¡steel¡¡plates¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡vessel
was¡¡originally¡¡armoured¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡carried¡¡one¡¡motor¡cannon
of¡¡large¡¡size¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡pattern£»¡¡but
Crab¡¡K¡¡was¡¡furnished¡¡with¡¡a¡¡spring¡¡armour¡¡above¡¡the
heavy¡¡plates¡¡of¡¡her¡¡roof¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡had¡¡been¡¡placed¡¡upon
her¡¡after¡¡the¡¡news¡¡had¡¡been¡¡received¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Syndicate
that¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡a¡¡perpendicular¡¡cannon
over¡¡her¡¡stern£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡time¡¡enough¡¡to
fit¡¡out¡¡another¡¡crab¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
When¡¡the¡¡director¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡7¡¡first
caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡and¡¡scanned¡¡through¡¡his
glass¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡proportions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡ship¡¡which¡¡was
rapidly¡¡steaming¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡a
responsibility¡¡rested¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡heavier¡¡than¡¡any¡¡which
had¡¡yet¡¡been¡¡borne¡¡by¡¡an¡¡officer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate£»¡¡but
he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡hesitate¡¡in¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
sent¡¡to¡¡perform£»¡¡and¡¡immediately¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡two¡¡crabs
to¡¡advance¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡to
action¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡instructions¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had
previously¡¡received¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡own¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡kept£»¡¡in
pursuance¡¡of¡¡orders£»¡¡several¡¡miles¡¡distant¡¡from¡¡the
British¡¡ship¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡repeller¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sighted¡¡from¡¡the
Adamant£»¡¡a¡¡strict¡¡lookout¡¡had¡¡been¡¡kept¡¡for¡¡the
approach¡¡of¡¡crabs£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡small¡¡exposed¡¡portions
of¡¡the¡¡backs¡¡of¡¡two¡¡of¡¡these¡¡were¡¡perceived¡¡glistening
in¡¡the¡¡sunlight£»¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡ship¡¡slackened¡£¡¡
The¡¡ability¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's¡¡submerged¡¡vessels¡¡to
move¡¡suddenly¡¡and¡¡quickly¡¡in¡¡any¡¡direction¡¡had¡¡been
clearly¡¡demonstrated£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡a¡¡great¡¡ironclad
with¡¡a¡¡ram¡¡could¡¡run¡¡down¡¡and¡¡sink¡¡a¡¡crab¡¡without
feeling¡¡the¡¡concussion£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡known¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be
perfectly¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡craft¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
way¡¡of¡¡its¡¡bulky¡¡antagonist¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore¡¡the¡¡Adamant
did¡¡not¡¡try¡¡to¡¡ram¡¡the¡¡crabs£»¡¡nor¡¡to¡¡get¡¡away¡¡from
them¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡commander¡¡intended£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»¡¡to¡¡run¡¡down
one¡¡or¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡propose¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this
in¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡way¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
As¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡approached£»¡¡the¡¡stern¡jacket¡¡of
the¡¡Adamant¡¡was¡¡let¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡engines¡¡were
slowed¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡stern¡jacket£»¡¡when¡¡protecting¡¡the¡¡rudder
and¡¡propellers£»¡¡looked¡¡very¡¡much¡¡like¡¡the¡¡cowcatcher¡¡of
a¡¡locomotive£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡being¡¡put¡¡to¡¡a
somewhat¡¡similar¡¡use¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡the
captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡should¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡attempt¡¡to
attach¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡his¡¡stern£»¡¡to¡¡suddenly¡¡put¡¡on¡¡all
steam£»¡¡reverse¡¡his¡¡engines£»¡¡and¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡the
stern¡jacket¡¡answering¡¡as¡¡a¡¡ram¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡had¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡in
this¡¡way¡¡he¡¡could¡¡run¡¡into¡¡a¡¡crab£»¡¡roll¡¡it¡¡over¡¡in¡¡the
water£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡bottom¡¡upward£»¡¡like¡¡a
floating¡¡cask£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡move¡¡his¡¡ship¡¡to¡¡a¡¡distance£»
and¡¡make¡¡a¡¡target¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡desirous¡¡was¡¡this¡¡brave
and¡¡somewhat¡¡facetious¡¡captain¡¡to¡¡try¡¡his¡¡new¡¡plan¡¡upon
a¡¡crab£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡forebore¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡two¡¡vessels
of¡¡that¡¡class¡¡which¡¡were¡¡approaching¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡his
guns¡¡were¡¡so¡¡mounted¡¡that¡¡their¡¡muzzles¡¡could¡¡be
greatly¡¡depressed£»¡¡and¡¡aimed¡¡at¡¡an¡¡object¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water
not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ship¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡these¡¡were¡¡not¡¡discharged£»
and£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡the¡¡crabs£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡new¡¡ones¡¡of¡¡unusual
swiftness£»¡¡were¡¡alongside¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡in¡¡an¡¡incredibly¡¡
short¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡these¡¡guns¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
Crab¡¡J¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡starboard¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»
Crab¡¡K¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡port¡¡side£»¡¡and£»¡¡simultaneously£»¡¡the
two¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡directly
astern¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡vessel¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡had¡¡its¡¡nippers
fastened¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stern¡jacket£»¡¡near¡¡the
hinge¡like¡¡bolts¡¡which¡¡held¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡vessel£»¡¡and¡¡on
which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡raised¡¡and¡¡lowered¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡began¡¡to¡¡steam¡¡backward£»
but¡¡the¡¡only¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡this¡¡motion£»¡¡which¡¡soon¡¡became
rapid£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡swing¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡around¡¡against¡¡her¡¡sides£»
and¡¡carry¡¡them¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡thus
moving¡¡the¡¡great¡¡pincers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡were¡¡twisted¡¡with
tremendous¡¡force£»¡¡the¡¡stern¡jacket¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side¡¡was
broken¡¡from¡¡its¡¡bolt£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡the¡¡bolt¡¡itself
was¡¡drawn¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡nippers
then¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stern¡jacket¡¡fell¡¡from¡¡their¡¡grasp
into¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡snapping¡¡in¡¡its¡¡fall¡¡the¡¡chain¡¡by¡¡which
it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡and¡¡lowered¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
This¡¡disaster¡¡occurred¡¡so¡¡quickly¡¡that¡¡few¡¡persons
on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the
captain£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡everything£»¡¡gave¡¡instant
orders¡¡to¡¡go¡¡ahead¡¡at¡¡full¡¡speed¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡thing
to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡those¡¡crabs£»
keep¡¡well¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡pound¡¡them¡¡to¡¡pieces¡¡with
his¡¡heavy¡¡guns¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
But¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡screw¡propellers¡¡had¡¡scarcely¡¡begun¡¡to
move¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡two¡¡crabs£»
each¡¡now¡¡lying¡¡at¡¡right¡¡angles¡¡with¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the
ship£»¡¡but¡¡neither¡¡of¡¡them¡¡directly¡¡astern¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡made
a¡¡dash¡¡with¡¡open¡¡nippers£»¡¡and¡¡Crab¡¡J¡¡fastened¡¡upon¡¡one
propeller£»¡¡while¡¡Crab¡¡K¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡There
was¡¡a¡¡din¡¡and¡¡crash¡¡of¡¡breaking¡¡metal£»¡¡two¡¡shocks¡¡which
were¡¡felt¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡vessel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡shattered¡¡and
crushed¡¡blades¡¡of¡¡the¡¡propellers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡battle¡
ship¡¡were¡¡powerless¡¡to¡¡move¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡pallid¡¡with¡¡fury£»
stood¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡poop¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡would¡¡be¡¡at
his¡¡rudder£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡gun£»¡¡double¡shotted¡¡and¡¡ready¡¡to
fire£»¡¡was¡¡hanging¡¡from¡¡its¡¡boom¡¡over¡¡the¡¡stern¡£¡¡¡¡Crab
K£»¡¡whose¡¡roof¡¡had¡¡the¡¡additional¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡spring
armour£»¡¡now¡¡moved¡¡round¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡directly¡¡astern¡¡of
the¡¡Adamant¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡rudder£»¡¡her
forward¡¡part¡¡came¡¡under¡¡the¡¡suspended¡¡cannon£»¡¡and¡¡two
massive¡¡steel¡¡shot¡¡were¡¡driven¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡with¡¡a
force¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡send¡¡them¡¡through¡¡masses¡¡of¡¡solid
rock£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡elastic¡¡steel¡¡springs¡¡and
air¡buffers¡¡they¡¡bounced¡¡upward£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡almost
falling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡gunners¡¡of¡¡this¡¡piece¡¡had¡¡been¡¡well¡¡trained¡£¡¡
In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡boom¡¡was¡¡swung¡¡around£»¡¡the¡¡cannon
reloaded£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Crab¡¡K¡¡fixed¡¡her¡¡nippers¡¡on¡¡the
rudder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant£»¡¡two¡¡more¡¡shot¡¡came¡¡down¡¡upon
her¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡instance¡¡she¡¡dipped¡¡and¡¡rolled£»
but¡¡the¡¡ribs¡¡of¡¡her¡¡uninjured¡¡armour¡¡had¡¡scarcely
sprung¡¡back¡¡into¡¡their¡¡places£»¡¡before¡¡her¡¡nippers
turned£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rudder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adamant¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡in
two£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡portion¡¡dragged¡¡from¡¡its¡¡fastenings
then¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡backward¡¡jerk¡¡snapped¡¡its¡¡chains£»¡¡and¡¡it
was¡¡dropped¡¡into¡¡th