the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第15节
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the officers in charge of the boats to make an especial attack upon these。 If
the air…pipes of a crab could be rendered useless； the crew must inevitably
be smothered。 But the brave captain did not know that the condensed…air
chambers of the crabs would supply their inmates for an hour or more
without recourse to the outer air； and that the air…pipes； furnished with
valves at the top； were always withdrawn under water during action with
an enemy。 Nor did he know that the glass blocks under the armour…plates
of the crabs； which were placed in rubber frames to protect them from
concussion above； were also guarded by steel netting from injury by small
balls。 Valiantly the boats beset the crabs； keeping up a constant fusillade；
and endeavouring to throw grapnels over them。 If one of these should
catch under an overlapping armour…plate it could be connected with the
steam windlass of the Adamant； and a plate might be ripped off or a crab
overturned。 But the crabs proved to be much more lively fish than their
enemies had supposed。 Turning； as if on a pivot； and darting from side to
side； they seemed to be playing with the boats； and not trying to get away
from them。 The spring armour of Crab K interfered somewhat with its
movements； and also put it in danger from attacks by grapnels； and it
therefore left most of the work to its consort。 Crab J； after darting swiftly
in and out among her antagonists for some time； suddenly made a turn；
and dashing at one of the boats； ran under it； and raising it on its glistening
back； rolled it； bottom upward； into the sea。 In a moment the crew of the
boat were swimming for their lives。 They were quickly picked up by two
of the other boats； which then deemed it prudent to return to the ship。 But
the second officer of the Adamant； who commanded the fourth boat； did
not give up the fight。 Having noted the spring armour of Crab K； he
believed that if he could get a grapnel between its steel ribs he yet might
capture the sea…monster。 For some minutes Crab K contented itself with
eluding him； but； tired of this； it turned； and raising its huge nippers almost
out of the water； it seized the bow of the boat； and gave it a gentle crunch；
after which it released its hold and retired。 The boat； leaking rapidly
through two ragged holes； was rowed back to the ship； which it reached
half full of water。 The great battle…ship； totally bereft of the power of
moving herself； was now rolling in the trough of the sea； and a signal
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
came from the repeller for Crab K to make fast to her and put her head to
the wind。 This was quickly done； the crab attaching itself to the stern…post
of the Adamant by a pair of towing nippers。 These were projected from the
stern of the crab； and were so constructed that the larger vessel did not
communicate all its motion to the smaller one； and could not run down
upon it。 As soon as the Adamant was brought up with her head to the wind
she opened fire upon the repeller。 The latter vessel could easily have sailed
out of the range of a motionless enemy； but her orders forbade this。 Her
director had been instructed by the Syndicate to expose his vessel to the
fire of the Adamant's heavy guns。 Accordingly the repeller steamed nearer；
and turned her broadside toward the British ship。 Scarcely had this been
done when the two great bow guns of the Adamant shook the air with
tremendous roars； each hurling over the sea nearly a ton of steel。 One of
these great shot passed over the repeller； but the other struck her armoured
side fairly amidship。 There was a crash and scream of creaking steel； and
Repeller No。 7 rolled over to windward as if she had been struck by a
heavy sea。 In a moment she righted and shot ahead； and； turning； presented
her port side to the enemy。 Instant examination of the armour on her other
side showed that the two banks of springs were uninjured； and that not an
air…buffer had exploded or failed to spring back to its normal length。 Firing
from the Adamant now came thick and fast； the crab； in obedience to
signals； turning her about so as to admit the firing of some heavy guns
mounted amidships。 Three enormous solid shot struck the repeller at
different points on her starboard armour without inflicting damage； while
the explosion of several shells which hit her had no more effect upon her
elastic armour than the impact of the solid shot。 It was the desire of the
Syndicate not only to demonstrate to its own satisfaction the efficiency of
its spring armour； but to convince Great Britain that her heaviest guns on
her mightiest battle…ships could have no effect upon its armoured vessels。
To prove the absolute superiority of their means of offence and defence
was the supreme object of the Syndicate。 For this its members studied and
worked by day and by night； for this they poured out their millions； for
this they waged war。 To prove what they claimed would be victory。 When
Repeller No。 7 had sustained the heavy fire of the Adamant for about half
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an hour； it was considered that the strength of her armour had been
sufficiently demonstrated； and； with a much lighter heart than when he had
turned her broadside to the Adamant； her director gave orders that she
should steam out of the range of the guns of the British ship。 During the
cannonade Crab J had quietly slipped away from the vicinity of the
Adamant； and now joined the repeller。 The great ironclad battle…ship； with
her lofty sides plated with nearly two feet of solid steel； with her six great
guns； each weighing more than a hundred tons； with her armament of
other guns； machine cannon； and almost every appliance of naval warfare；
with a small army of officers and men on board； was left in charge of Crab
K； of which only a few square yards of armoured roof could be seen above
the water。 This little vessel now proceeded to tow southward her vast prize；
uninjured； except that her rudder and propeller… blades were broken and
useless。 Although the engines of the crab were of enormous power； the
progress made was slow； for the Adamant was being towed stern foremost。
It would have been easier to tow the great vessel had the crab been
attached to her bow； but a ram which extended many feet under water
rendered it dangerous for a submerged vessel to attach itself in its vicinity。
During the night the repeller kept company； although at a considerable
distance； with the captured vessel； and early the next morning her director
prepared to send to the Adamant a boat with a flag…of…truce； and a letter
demanding the surrender and subsequent evacuation of the British ship。 It
was supposed that now； when the officers of the Adamant had had time to
appreciate the fact that they had no control over the movements of their
vessel； that their armament was powerless against their enemies； that the
Adamant could be towed wherever the Syndicate chose to order； or left
helpless in midocean；they would be obliged to admit that there was
nothing for them to do but to surrender。
But events proved that no such ideas had entered the minds of the
Adamant's officers； and their action totally prevented sending a flag…of…
truce boat。 As soon as it was light enough to see the repeller the Adamant
began firing great guns at her。 She was too far away for the shot to strike
her； but to launch and send a boat of any kind into a storm of shot and
shell was of course impossible。
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The cannon suspended over the stern of the Adamant was also again
brought into play； and shot after shot was driven down upon the towing
crab。 Every ball rebounded from the spring armour； but the officer in
charge of the crab became
