the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第18节
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Northern port of the United States； bound for the coast of Great Britain。
Her course was a very northerly one； for the reason that the Syndicate had
planned work for her to do while on her way across the Atlantic。 The
Syndicate had now determined； without unnecessarily losing an hour； to
plainly demonstrate the power of the instantaneous motor…bomb。 It had
been intended to do this upon the Adamant； but as it had been found
impossible to induce the captain of that vessel to evacuate his ship； the
Syndicate had declined to exhibit the efficiency of their new agent of
destruction upon a disabled craft crowded with human beings。 This course
had been highly prejudicial to the claims of the Syndicate； for as Repeller
No。 7 had made no use in the contest with the Adamant of the motor…
bombs with which she was said to be supplied； it was generally believed
on both sides of the Atlantic that she carried no such bombs； and the
conviction that the destruction at the Canadian port had been effected by
means of mines continued as strong as it had ever been。 To correct these
false ideas was； now the duty of Repeller No。 11。 For some time Great
Britain had been steadily forwarding troops and munitions of war to
Canada； without interruption from her enemy。 Only once had the
Syndicate's vessels appeared above the Banks of Newfoundland； and as
the number of these peculiar craft must necessarily be small； it was not
supposed that their line of operations would be extended very far north；
and no danger from them was apprehended； provided the English vessels
laid their courses well to the north。 Shortly before the sailing of Repeller
No。 11； the Syndicate had received news that one of the largest
transatlantic mail steamers； loaded with troops and with heavy cannon for
Canadian fortifications； and accompanied by the Craglevin； one of the
largest ironclads in the Royal Navy； had started across the Atlantic。 The
first business of the repeller and her attendant crabs concerned these two
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vessels。 Owing to the power and speed of the crabs which towed her；
Repeller No。 11 made excellent time； and on the morning of the third day
out the two British vessels were sighted。 Somewhat altering their course
the Syndicate's vessels were soon within a few miles of the enemy。 The
Craglevin was a magnificent warship。 She was not quite so large as the
Adamant； and she was unprovided with a stern…jacket or other defence of
the kind。 In sending her out the Admiralty had designed her to defend the
transport against the regular vessels of the United States navy； for
although the nature of the contract with the Syndicate was well understood
in England； it was not supposed that the American Government would
long consent to allow their war vessels to remain entirely idle。 When the
captain of the Craglevin perceived the approach of the repeller he was
much surprised； but he did not hesitate for a moment as to his course。 He
signalled to the transport； then about a mile to the north； to keep on her
way while he steered to meet the enemy。 It had been decided in British
naval circles that the proper thing to do in regard to a repeller was to ram
her as quickly as possible。 These vessels were necessarily slow and
unwieldy； and if a heavy ironclad could keep clear of crabs long enough to
rush down upon one； there was every reason to believe that the 〃ball…
bouncer；〃 as the repellers were called by British sailors； could be crushed
in below the water…line and sunk。 So； full of courage and determination；
the captain of the Craglevin bore down upon the repeller。 It is not
necessary to enter into details of the ensuing action。 Before the Craglevin
was within half a mile of her enemy she was seized by two crabs； all of
which had cast loose from the repeller； and in less than twenty minutes
both of her screws were extracted and her rudder shattered。 In the mean
time two of the swiftest crabs had pursued the transport； and； coming up
with her； one of them had fastened to her rudder； without； however；
making any attempt to injure it。 When the captain of the steamer saw that
one of the sea…devils had him by the stern； while another was near by
ready to attack him； he prudently stopped his engines and lay to； the crab
keeping his ship's head to the sea。 The captain of the Craglevin was a very
different man from the captain of the Adamant。 He was quite as brave； but
he was wiser and more prudent。 He saw that the transport had been
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captured and forced to lay to； he saw that the repeller mounted two heavy
guns at her bow； and whatever might be the character of those guns； there
could be no reasonable doubt that they were sufficient to sink an ordinary
mail steamer。 His own vessel was entirely out of his control； and even if he
chose to try his guns on the spring armour of the repeller； it would
probably result in the repeller turning her fire up on the transport。 With a
disabled ship； and the lives of so many men in his charge； the captain of
the Craglevin saw that it would be wrong for him to attempt to fight； and
he did not fire a gun。 With as much calmness as the circumstances would
permit； he awaited the progress of events。 In a very short time a message
came to him from Repeller No。 11； which stated that in two hours his ship
would be destroyed by instantaneous motor…bombs。 Every opportunity；
however； would be given for the transfer to the mail steamer of all the
officers and men on board the Craglevin； together with such of their
possessions as they could take with them in that time。 When this had been
done the transport would be allowed to proceed on her way。 To this
demand nothing but acquiescence was possible。 Whether or not there was
such a thing as an instantaneous motor…bomb the Craglevin's officers did
not know； but they knew that if left to herself their ship would soon attend
to her own sinking； for there was a terrible rent in her stern； owing to a
pitch of the vessel while one of the propeller…shafts was being extracted。
Preparations for leaving the ship were； therefore； immediately begun。 The
crab was ordered to release the mail steamer； which； in obedience to
signals from the Craglevin； steamed as near that vessel as safety would
permit。 Boats were lowered from both ships； and the work of transfer went
on with great activity。 There was no lowering of flags on board the
Craglevin； for the Syndicate attached no importance to such outward signs
and formalities。 If the captain of the British ship chose to haul down his
colours he could do so； but if he preferred to leave them still bravely
floating above his vessel he was equally welcome to do that。 When nearly
every one had left the Craglevin； a boat was sent from the repeller； which
lay near by； with a note requesting the captain and first officer of the
British ship to come on board Repeller No。 11 and witness the method of
discharging the instantaneous motor…bomb； after which they would be put
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on board the transport。 This invitation struck the captain of the Craglevin
with surprise； but a little reflection showed him that it would be wise to
accept it。 In the first place； it was in the nature of a command； which； in
the presence of six crabs and a repeller； it would be ridiculous to disobey；
and； moreover； he was moved by a desire to know something about the
Syndicate's mysterious engine of destruction； if； indeed； such a thing really
existed。 Accordingly； when all the others had left the ship； the captain of
the Craglevin and his first officer came on board the
