the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第12节
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these had done anything； or seemed likely to do anything； the British
cruiser should be attacked without loss of time。 When the commander of
the Lenox came to this decision； his ship was well abreast of Cape
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Henlopen； and he therefore proceeded directly out to sea。 There was a
little fear in his mind that the English cruiser； which was now bearing to
the south…east； might sail off and get away from him。 The Stockbridge was
detained by the arrival of a despatch boat from the shore with a message
from the Naval Department。 But as this message related only to the
measurements of a certain deck gun； her commander intended； as soon as
an answer could be sent off； to sail out and give battle to the British vessel。
Every soul on board the Lenox was now filled with fiery ardour。 The ship
was already in good fighting trim； but every possible preparation was
made for a contest which should show their country and the world what
American sailors were made of。 The Lenox had not proceeded more than a
mile out to sea； when she perceived Repeller No。 6 coming toward her
from seaward； and in a direction which indicated that it intended to run
across her course。 The Lenox； however； went straight on； and in a short
time the two vessels were quite near each other。 Upon the deck of the
repeller now appeared the director in charge； who； with a speaking…
trumpet； hailed the Lenox and requested her to lay to； as he had something
to communicate。 The commander of the Lenox； through his trumpet；
answered that he wanted no communications； and advised the other vessel
to keep out of his way。 The Lenox now put on a greater head of steam； and
as she was in any case a much faster vessel than the repeller； she rapidly
increased the distance between herself and the Syndicate's vessel； so that
in a few moments hailing was impossible。 Quick signals now shot up in
jets of black smoke from the repeller； and in a very short time afterward
the speed of the Lenox slackened so much that the repeller was able to
come up with her。 When the two vessels were abreast of each other； and at
a safe hailing distance apart； another signal went up from the repeller； and
then both vessels almost ceased to move through the water； although the
engines of the Lenox were working at high speed； with her propeller…
blades stirring up a whirlpool at her stern。 For a minute or two the officers
of the Lenox could not comprehend what had happened。 It was first
supposed that by mistake the engines had been slackened； but almost at
the same moment that it was found that this was not the case； the
discovery was made that the crab accompanying the repeller had laid hold
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of the stern…post of the Lenox； and with all the strength of her powerful
engines was holding her back。 Now burst forth in the Lenox a storm of
frenzied rage； such as was never seen perhaps upon any vessel since
vessels were first built。 From the commander to the stokers every heart
was filled with fury at the insult which was put upon them。 The
commander roared through his trumpet that if that infernal sea…beetle were
not immediately loosed from his ship he would first sink her and then the
repeller。 To these remarks the director of the Syndicate's vessels paid no
attention； but proceeded to state as briefly and forcibly as possible that the
Lenox had been detained in order that he might have an opportunity of
speaking with her commander； and of informing him that his action in
coming out of the harbour for the purpose of attacking a British vessel was
in direct violation of the contract between the United States and the
Syndicate having charge of the war； and that such action could not be
allowed。 The commander of the Lenox paid no more attention to these
words than the Syndicate's director had given to those he had spoken； but
immediately commenced a violent attack upon the crab。 It was impossible
to bring any of the large guns to bear upon her； for she was almost under
the stern of the Lenox； but every means of offence which infuriated
ingenuity could suggest was used against it。 Machine guns were trained to
fire almost perpendicularly； and shot after shot was poured upon that
portion of its glistening back which appeared above the water。 But as these
projectiles seemed to have no effect upon the solid back of Crab H； two
great anvils were hoisted at the end of the spanker…boom； and dropped；
one after the other； upon it。 The shocks were tremendous； but the internal
construction of the crabs provided； by means of upright beams； against
injury from attacks of this kind； and the great masses of iron slid off into
the sea without doing any damage。 Finding it impossible to make any
impression upon the mailed monster at his stern； the commander of the
Lenox hailed the director of the repeller； and swore to him through his
trumpet that if he did not immediately order the Lenox to be set free； her
heaviest guns should be brought to bear upon his floating counting…house；
and that it should be sunk； if it took all day to do it。 It would have been a
grim satisfaction to the commander of the Lenox to sink Repeller No。 6；
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for he knew the vessel when she had belonged to the United States navy。
Before she had been bought by the Syndicate； and fitted out with spring
armour； he had made two long cruises in her； and he bitterly hated her；
from her keel up。 The director of the repeller agreed to release the Lenox
the instant her commander would consent to return to port。 No answer was
made to this proposition； but a dynamite gun on the Lenox was brought to
bear upon the Syndicate's vessel。 Desiring to avoid any complications
which might ensue from actions of this sort； the repeller steamed ahead；
while the director signalled Crab H to move the stern of the Lenox to the
windward； which； being quickly done； the gun of the latter bore upon the
distant coast。 It was now very plain to the Syndicate director that his
words could have no effect upon the commander of the Lenox； and he
therefore signalled Crab H to tow the United States vessel into port。 When
the commander of the Lenox saw that his vessel was beginning to move
backward； he gave instant orders to put on all steam。 But this was found to
be useless； for when the dynamite gun was about to be fired； the engines
had been ordered stopped； and the moment that the propeller…blades
ceased moving the nippers of the crab had been released from their hold
upon the stern… post； and the propeller…blades of the Lenox were gently but
firmly seized in a grasp which included the rudder。 It was therefore
impossible for the engines of the vessel to revolve the propeller； and；
unresistingly； the Lenox was towed； stern foremost； to the Breakwater。 The
news of this incident created the wildest indignation in the United States
navy； and throughout the country the condemnation of what was
considered the insulting action of the Syndicate was general。 In foreign
countries the affair was the subject of a good deal of comment； but it was
also the occasion of much serious consideration； for it proved that one of
the Syndicate's submerged vessels could； without firing a gun； and without
fear of injury to itself； capture a man…of…war and tow it whither it pleased。
The authorities at Washington took instant action on the affair； and as it
was quite evident that the contract between the United States and the
Syndicate had been violated by the Lenox； the commander of that vessel
was reprimanded by the Secretary of the Navy； and en
