the great war syndicate-µÚ4½Ú
°´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£¡
and¡¡carrying¡¡the¡¡American¡¡flag£»¡¡was¡¡perceived¡¡from¡¡the
forts¡¡and¡¡redoubts¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harbour£»
and¡¡the¡¡news¡¡quickly¡¡spread¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the
vessels¡¡in¡¡port¡£¡¡¡¡Intense¡¡excitement¡¡ensued¡¡on¡¡land¡¡and
water£»¡¡among¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡its
defenders¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡a¡¡post¡¡of¡¡duty¡¡was
instantly¡¡at¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡the
British¡¡man¡of¡war¡¡Scarabaeus£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡lying
at¡¡anchor¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡harbour£»¡¡came
steaming¡¡out¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡other¡¡naval
vessels¡¡in¡¡port£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡required¡¡more¡¡time¡¡to¡¡be¡¡put
in¡¡readiness¡¡for¡¡action¡£
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡of¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was
perceived¡¡by¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1£»¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡bearing¡¡a¡¡white
flag¡¡was¡¡lowered¡¡from¡¡that¡¡vessel¡¡and¡¡was¡¡rapidly¡¡rowed
toward¡¡the¡¡British¡¡ship¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡boat
coming¡¡she¡¡lay¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡its¡¡arrival¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡note¡¡was
delivered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus£»¡¡in¡¡which
it¡¡was¡¡stated¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Syndicate£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡undertaken
on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡the¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war
between¡¡that¡¡country¡¡and¡¡Great¡¡Britain£»¡¡was¡¡now
prepared¡¡to¡¡demand¡¡the¡¡surrender¡¡of¡¡this¡¡city¡¡with¡¡its
forts¡¡and¡¡defences¡¡and¡¡all¡¡vessels¡¡within¡¡its¡¡harbour£»
and£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡first¡¡step£»¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡surrender¡¡of¡¡the
vessel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡which¡¡this¡¡note¡¡was¡¡delivered¡£
The¡¡overwhelming¡¡effrontery¡¡of¡¡this¡¡demand¡¡caused
the¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡to¡¡doubt¡¡whether¡¡he
had¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡a¡¡raving¡¡lunatic¡¡or¡¡a¡¡blustering¡¡fool£»
but¡¡he¡¡informed¡¡the¡¡person¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flag¡of¡
truce¡¡boat£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡give¡¡him¡¡fifteen¡¡minutes¡¡in
which¡¡to¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡vessel£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡then
open¡¡fire¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡craft¡£
The¡¡men¡¡who¡¡rowed¡¡the¡¡little¡¡boat¡¡were¡¡not¡¡men¡of¡
war's¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡unaccustomed¡¡to¡¡duties¡¡of¡¡this
kind¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡eight¡¡minutes¡¡they¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡their¡¡vessel£»
and¡¡were¡¡safe¡¡on¡¡board¡£
Just¡¡seven¡¡minutes¡¡afterward¡¡the¡¡first¡¡shot¡¡came
from¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1£»
and¡¡that¡¡vessel£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡replying£»¡¡immediately
steamed¡¡nearer¡¡her¡¡adversary¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Director¡in¡chief
desired¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡an¡¡active¡¡cannonade
upon¡¡the¡¡new¡¡armour£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡vessel
placed¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡position¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Englishman¡¡might
have¡¡the¡¡best¡¡opportunity¡¡for¡¡using¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡target¡£
The¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡lost¡¡no¡¡time¡¡in¡¡availing¡¡herself
of¡¡the¡¡facilities¡¡offered¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡and
powerful¡¡ship£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡armament£»¡¡and£»¡¡soon¡¡getting
the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate's¡¡vessel£»¡¡she¡¡hurled¡¡ball
after¡¡ball¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡striped¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1¡¡made
no¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡quietly¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡terrible
bombardment¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡shot¡¡jarred¡¡her¡¡from
bow¡¡to¡¡stern£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡broke¡¡a¡¡steel¡¡spring£»
nor¡¡penetrated¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡inside¡¡plates¡£
After¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡work¡¡the¡¡Director¡in¡
chief¡¡became¡¡satisfied¡¡that¡¡the¡¡new¡¡armour¡¡had¡¡well
acquitted¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡severe¡¡trial¡¡to¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had
been¡¡subjected¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air¡buffers¡¡had¡¡been
disabled£»¡¡probably¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡faults¡¡in¡¡their
construction£»¡¡but¡¡these¡¡could¡¡readily¡¡be¡¡replaced£»¡¡and
no¡¡further¡¡injury¡¡had¡¡been¡¡done¡¡the¡¡vessel¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not
necessary£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡experiment¡¡any
longer£»¡¡and¡¡besides£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡danger¡¡that¡¡the
Englishman£»¡¡perceiving¡¡that¡¡his¡¡antagonist¡¡did¡¡not
appear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡affected¡¡by¡¡his¡¡fire£»¡¡would¡¡approach
closer¡¡and¡¡endeavour¡¡to¡¡ram¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be
avoided£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was¡¡a¡¡much¡¡larger¡¡vessel
than¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1£»¡¡and¡¡able¡¡to¡¡run¡¡into¡¡the¡¡latter
and¡¡sink¡¡her¡¡by¡¡mere¡¡preponderance¡¡of¡¡weight¡£
It¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡now¡¡test¡¡the¡¡powers¡¡of
the¡¡crabs¡£¡¡¡¡Signals¡¡were¡¡made¡¡from¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1¡¡to
Crab¡¡A£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡lying¡¡with¡¡the¡¡larger¡¡vessel¡¡between¡¡it
and¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡signals¡¡were¡¡made¡¡by¡¡jets¡¡of
dense¡¡black¡¡smoke£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡ejected¡¡from¡¡a¡¡small¡¡pipe
on¡¡the¡¡repeller¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡slender¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡smoke
preserved¡¡their¡¡cylindrical¡¡forms¡¡for¡¡some¡¡moments£»¡¡and
were¡¡visible¡¡at¡¡a¡¡great¡¡distance¡¡by¡¡day¡¡or¡¡night£»¡¡being
illumined¡¡in¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡case¡¡by¡¡electric¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡The
length¡¡and¡¡frequency¡¡of¡¡these¡¡jets¡¡were¡¡regulated¡¡by¡¡an
instrument¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Director's¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of
long¡¡and¡¡short¡¡puffs£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡use¡¡of¡¡intervals£»
a¡¡message¡¡could¡¡be¡¡projected¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡¡as¡¡a
telegraphic¡¡instrument¡¡would¡¡mark¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡paper¡£
In¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡Crab¡¡A¡¡was¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡immediately
proceed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡almost
submerged¡¡vessel¡¡steamed¡¡rapidly¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡her
consort£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡British¡¡man¡of¡war¡£
When¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡vessel¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡of
this¡¡turtle¡backed¡¡object£»¡¡squirting¡¡little¡¡jets¡¡of
black¡¡smoke¡¡as¡¡she¡¡replied¡¡to¡¡the¡¡orders¡¡from¡¡the
repeller£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡great¡¡amazement¡¡on¡¡board¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡crab
had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡before£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡it¡¡came¡¡rapidly¡¡on
there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡curiosity¡¡or¡¡discussion£»¡¡and
several¡¡heavy¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It
was¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡a¡¡rapidly¡¡moving¡¡flat¡¡object
scarcely¡¡above¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡although
several¡¡shot¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡crab£»¡¡they¡¡glanced¡¡off
without¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡interfering¡¡with¡¡its¡¡progress¡£
Crab¡¡A¡¡soon¡¡came¡¡so¡¡near¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡that¡¡it
was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡depress¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡so¡¡as
to¡¡strike¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡vessel¡¡was£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡headed
toward¡¡its¡¡assailant£»¡¡and¡¡under¡¡a¡¡full¡¡head¡¡of¡¡steam
dashed¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡it¡¡to¡¡run¡¡it¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡crab
could¡¡turn¡¡as¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡pivot£»¡¡and¡¡shooting¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side
allowed¡¡the¡¡surging¡¡man¡of¡war¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡it¡£
Perceiving¡¡instantly¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡to
strike¡¡this¡¡nimble¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡submerged¡¡adversary£»¡¡the
commander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡well¡¡to¡¡let¡¡it
alone¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡down¡¡with¡¡all¡¡speed
upon¡¡the¡¡repeller¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡easier¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡crab
than¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡it¡¡behind¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡great
speed£»¡¡and£»¡¡following¡¡the¡¡British¡¡vessel£»¡¡it¡¡quickly
came¡¡up¡¡with¡¡her¡£
The¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was¡¡instantly
changed£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡effort¡¡was¡¡made¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡vessel
into¡¡a¡¡position¡¡to¡¡run¡¡down¡¡the¡¡crab¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡not
easy¡¡for¡¡so¡¡large¡¡a¡¡ship£»¡¡and¡¡Crab¡¡A¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡no
difficulty¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡close¡¡to¡¡her¡¡stern¡£
Several¡¡machine¡guns£»¡¡especially¡¡adopted¡¡for
firing¡¡at¡¡torpedo¡boats¡¡or¡¡any¡¡hostile¡¡craft¡¡which
might¡¡be¡¡discovered¡¡close¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vessel£»¡¡were¡¡now¡¡brought
to¡¡bear¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡crab£»¡¡and¡¡ball¡¡after¡¡ball¡¡was¡¡hurled
at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡struck£»¡¡but¡¡glanced¡¡off¡¡without
penetrating¡¡her¡¡tough¡¡armour¡£
These¡¡manoeuvres¡¡had¡¡not¡¡continued¡¡long£»¡¡when¡¡the
crew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crab¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡into¡¡action¡¡the
peculiar¡¡apparatus¡¡of¡¡that¡¡peculiar¡¡craft¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡enormous
pair¡¡of¡¡iron¡¡forceps£»¡¡each¡¡massive¡¡limb¡¡of¡¡which
measured¡¡twelve¡¡feet¡¡or¡¡more¡¡in¡¡length£»¡¡was¡¡run¡¡out¡¡in
front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crab¡¡at¡¡a¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡six¡¡or¡¡eight¡¡feet
below¡¡the¡¡surface¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡forceps¡¡were¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡an
electric¡¡engine¡¡of¡¡immense¡¡power£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡they¡¡could
be¡¡shut£»¡¡opened£»¡¡projected£»¡¡withdrawn£»¡¡or¡¡turned¡¡and
twisted¡£
The¡¡crab¡¡darted¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡instant
the¡¡great¡¡teeth¡¡of¡¡her¡¡pincers¡¡were¡¡fastened¡¡with¡¡a
tremendous¡¡grip¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡rudder¡¡and¡¡rudder¡post¡¡of¡¡the
Scarabaeus¡£
Then¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡twist£»¡¡which¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡thrill
through¡¡both¡¡vessels£»¡¡a¡¡crash£»¡¡a¡¡backward¡¡jerk£»¡¡the
snapping¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chain£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡great¡¡rudder£»
with¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rudder¡post¡¡attached£»¡¡was¡¡torn¡¡from
the¡¡vessel£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡forceps¡¡opened¡¡it¡¡dropped¡¡to
leeward¡¡and¡¡hung¡¡dangling¡¡by¡¡one¡¡chain¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
Again¡¡the¡¡forceps¡¡opened¡¡wide£»¡¡again¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a
rush£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡jaws¡¡closed¡¡upon¡¡the
rapidly¡¡revolving¡¡screw¡propeller¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a
tremendous¡¡crash£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡small¡¡but¡¡massive¡¡crab¡¡turned
over¡¡so¡¡far¡¡that¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡one¡¡of¡¡its¡¡sides¡¡was
plainly¡¡visible¡¡above¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡blades¡¡of¡¡the
propeller¡¡were¡¡crushed¡¡and¡¡shivered£»¡¡those¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the
steamer's¡¡engines¡¡connecting¡¡with¡¡the¡¡propeller¡shaft
were¡¡snapped¡¡and¡¡rent¡¡apart£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡propeller¡
shaft¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡the¡¡violent¡¡stoppage¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡crab£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡quickly¡¡righted£»¡¡now¡¡backed£»
still¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡crushed¡¡propeller¡¡in¡¡its¡¡iron¡¡grasp£»
and¡¡as¡¡it¡¡moved¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus£»¡¡it
extracted¡¡about¡¡forty¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡its¡¡propeller¡shaft£»
then£»¡¡opening¡¡its¡¡massive¡¡jaws£»¡¡it¡¡allowed¡¡the¡¡useless
mass¡¡of¡¡iron¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
Every¡¡man¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was¡¡wild¡¡with
amazement¡¡and¡¡excitement¡£¡¡¡¡Few¡¡could¡¡comprehend¡¡what
had¡¡happened£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡very¡¡quickly¡¡became¡¡evident¡£¡¡¡¡So
far¡¡as¡¡motive¡¡power¡¡was¡¡concerned£»¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was
totally£»¡¡disabled¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡could¡¡not¡¡direct¡¡her¡¡course£»
for¡¡her¡¡rudder¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡her¡¡propeller¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡her
engines¡¡were¡¡useless£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡could¡¡do¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than
float¡¡as¡¡wind¡¡or¡¡tide¡¡might¡¡move¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡there
was¡¡a¡¡jagged¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡her¡¡stern¡¡where¡¡the¡¡shaft¡¡had
been£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡this¡¡the¡¡water¡¡was¡¡pouring¡¡into¡¡the
vessel¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡man¡of¡war¡¡the¡¡Scarabaeus¡¡was¡¡worthless¡£
¡¡¡¡
Orders¡¡now¡¡came¡¡fast¡¡from¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1£»¡¡which¡¡had
moved¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡