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第19节

the great war syndicate-第19节

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there were not crabs enough to attend to them all。

   

No time was wasted。  Q signalled to R; and R back

again; and instantly the two crabs; each still grasping

a chain of the cylinder; began to sink。  On board the

Llangaron an order was shouted to let out the

cylinder chains; but as these chains had only been made

long enough to allow the top of the cylinder to hang at

or a little below the surface of the water; a foot or

two of length was all that could be gained。

   

The davits from which the cylinder hung were thick

and strong; and the iron windlasses to which the chains

were attached were large and ponderous; but these were

not strong enough to withstand the weight of two crabs

with steel…armoured roofs; enormous engines; and iron

hull。  In less than a minute one davit snapped

like a pipe…stem under the tremendous strain; and

immediately afterward the windlass to which the chain

was attached was torn from its bolts; and went crashing

overboard; tearing away a portion of the stern…rail in

its descent。

   

Crab Q instantly released the chain it had held;

and in a moment the great cylinder hung almost

perpendicularly from one chain。  But only for a moment。 

The nippers of Crab R still firmly held the chain; and

the tremendous leverage exerted by the falling of one

end of the cylinder wrenched it from the rigidly held

end of its chain; and; in a flash; the enormous stern…

guard of the Llangaron sunk; end foremost; to the

bottom of the channel。

   

In ten minutes afterward; the Llangaron;

rudderless; and with the blades of her propellers

shivered and crushed; was slowly turning her starboard

to the wind and the sea; and beginning to roll like a

log of eight thousand tons。

   

Besides the Llangaron; three ironclads were now

drifting broadside to the sea。  But there was no time

to succour disabled vessels; for the rest of the fleet

was coming on; and there was great work for the

crabs。

   

Against these enemies; swift of motion and sudden

in action; the torpedo…boats found it almost impossible

to operate; for the British ships and the crabs were so

rapidly nearing each other that a torpedo sent out

against an enemy was more than likely to run against

the hull of a friend。  Each crab sped at the top of its

speed for a ship; not only to attack; but also to

protect itself。

   

Once only did the crabs give the torpedo…boats a

chance。  A mile or two north of the scene of action; a

large cruiser was making her way rapidly toward the

repeller; which was still lying almost motionless; four

miles to the westward。  As it was highly probable that

this vessel carried dynamite guns; Crab Q; which was

the fastest of her class; was signalled to go after

her。  She had scarcely begun her course across the open

space of sea before a torpedo…boat was in pursuit。 

Fast as was the latter; the crab was faster; and quite

as easily managed。  She was in a position of great

danger; and her only safety lay in keeping herself on a

line between the torpedo…boat and the gun…boat;

and to shorten as quickly as possible the distance

between herself and that vessel。

   

If the torpedo…boat shot to one side in order to

get the crab out of line; the crab; its back sometimes

hidden by the tossing waves; sped also to the same

side。  When the torpedo…boat could aim a gun at the

crab and not at the gun…boat; a deadly torpedo flew

into the sea; but a tossing sea and a shifting target

were unfavourable to the gunner's aim。  It was not

long; however; before the crab had run the chase which

might so readily have been fatal to it; and was so near

the gun…boat that no more torpedoes could be fired at

it。

   

Of course the officers and crew of the gun…boat had

watched with most anxious interest the chase of the

crab。  The vessel was one which had been fitted out for

service with dynamite guns; of which she carried some

of very long range for this class of artillery; and she

had been ordered to get astern of the repeller and to

do her best to put a few dynamite bombs on board of

her。

   

The dynamite gun…boat therefore had kept ahead at

full speed; determined to carry out her instructions if

she should be allowed to do so; but her speed was not

as great as that of a crab; and when the torpedo…

boat had given up the chase; and the dreaded crab was

drawing swiftly near; the captain thought it time for

bravery to give place to prudence。  With the large

amount of explosive material of the most tremendous and

terrific character which he had on board; it would be

the insanity of courage for him to allow his

comparatively small vessel to be racked; shaken; and

partially shivered by the powerful jaws of the on…

coming foe。  As he could neither fly nor fight; he

hauled down his flag in token of surrender; the first

instance of the kind which had occurred in this war。

   

When the director of Crab Q; through his lookout…

glass; beheld this action on the part of the gun…boat;

he was a little perplexed as to what he should next do。 

To accept the surrender of the British vessel; and to

assume control of her; it was necessary to communicate

with her。  The communications of the crabs were made

entirely by black…smoke signals; and these the captain

of the gun…boat could not understand。  The heavy

hatches in the mailed roof which could be put in use

when the crab was cruising; could not be opened when

she was at her fighting depth; and in a tossing sea。

   

A means was soon devised of communicating with the

gun…boat。  A speaking…tube was run up through one of

the air…pipes of the crab; which pipe was then elevated

some distance above the surface。  Through this the

director hailed the other vessel; and as the air…pipe

was near the stern of the crab; and therefore at a

distance from the only visible portion of the turtle…

back roof; his voice seemed to come out of the depths

of the ocean。

   

The surrender was accepted; and the captain of the

gun…boat was ordered to stop his engines and prepare to

be towed。  When this order had been given; the crab

moved round to the bow of the gun…boat; and grasping

the cut…water with its forceps; reversed its engines

and began to back rapidly toward the British fleet;

taking with it the captured vessel as a protection

against torpedoes while in transit。

   

The crab slowed up not far from one of the foremost

of the British ships; and coming round to the quarter

of the gun…boat; the astonished captain of that vessel

was informed; through the speaking…tube; that if

he would give his parole to keep out of this fight; he

would be allowed to proceed to his anchorage in

Portsmouth harbour。  The parole was given; and the

dynamite gun…boat; after reporting to the flag…ship;

steamed away to Portsmouth。

   

The situation now became one which was unparalleled

in the history of naval warfare。  On the side of the

British; seven war…ships were disabled and drifting

slowly to the south…east。  For half an hour no advance

had been made by the British fleet; for whenever one of

the large vessels had steamed ahead; such vessel had

become the victim of a crab; and the Vice…Admiral

commanding the fleet had signalled not to advance until

farther orders。

   

The crabs were also lying…to; each to the windward

of; and not far from; one of the British ships。  They

had ceased to make any attacks; and were resting

quietly under protection of the enemy。  This; with the

fact that the repeller still lay four miles away;

without any apparent intention of taking part in the

battle; gave the situation its peculiar character。

   

The British Vice…Admiral did not intend to remain

in this quiescent condition。  It was; of course;

useless to order forth his ironclads; simply to

see them disabled and set adrift。  There was another

arm of the service which evidently could be used with

better effect upon this peculiar foe than could the

great battle…ships。

  

But before doing anything else; he must provide for

the safety of those of his vessels which had been

rendered helpless by the crabs; and some of which were

now drifting dangerously near to each other。 

Despatches had been sent to Portsmouth for tugs; but it

would not do to wait until these arrived; and a

sufficient number of ironclads were detailed to tow

their injured consorts into port。

   

When this order had been given; the Vice…Admiral

immediately prepared to renew the fight; and this time

his efforts were to be directed entirely against the

repeller。  It would be useless to devote any further

attention to the crabs; especially in their present

positions。  But if the chief vessel of the Syndicate's

fleet; with its spring armour and its terrible

earthquake bombs; could be destroyed; it was quite

possible that those sea…parasites; the crabs; could

also be disposed of。

   

Every t

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