the great war syndicate(战争辛迪加)-第21节
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torpedo…boat； and speeding swiftly by its own powers beneath the waves；
should strike the submerged hull of a crab； there would be one crab the
less in the English Channel。 As has been said； the Llangaron came rushing
on； distancing everything； even the torpedo…boats。 If； before she was
obliged to lower her cylinder； she could get near enough to the almost
stationary repeller to take part in the attack on her； she would then be
content to slacken speed and let the crabs nibble awhile at her stern。 Two
of the latest constructed and largest crabs； Q and R； headed at full speed to
meet the Llangaron； who； as she came on； opened the ball by sending a
〃rattler〃 in the shape of a five…hundred…pound shot into the ribs of the
repeller； then at least four miles distant； and immediately after began firing
her dynamite guns； which were of limited range at the roofs of the
advancing crabs。 There were some on board the repeller who； at the
moment the great shot struck her； with a ringing and clangour of steel
springs； such as never was heard before； wished that in her former state of
existence she had been some other vessel than the Tallapoosa。 But every
spring sprang back to its place as the great mass of iron glanced off into
the sea。 The dynamite bombs flew over the tops of the crabs； whose rapid
motions and slightly exposed surfaces gave little chance for accurate aim；
and in a short time they were too close to the Llangaron for this class of
gun to be used upon them。 As the crabs came nearer； the Llangaron
lowered the great steel cylinder which hung across her stern； until it lay
almost entirely under water； and abaft of her rudder and propeller…blades。
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She now moved slowly through the water； and her men greeted the
advancing crabs with yells of defiance； and a shower of shot from machine
guns。 The character of the new defence which had been fitted to the
Llangaron was known to the Syndicate； and the directors of the two new
crabs understood the heavy piece of work which lay before them。 But their
plans of action had been well considered； and they made straight for the
stern of the British ship。 It was； of course； impossible to endeavour to
grasp that great cylinder with its rounded ends； their forceps would slip
from any portion of its smooth surface on which they should endeavour to
lay hold； and no such attempt was made。 Keeping near the cylinder； one at
each end of it； the two moved slowly after the Llangaron； apparently
discouraged。 In a short time； however； it was perceived by those on board
the ship that a change had taken place in the appearance of the crabs； the
visible portion of their backs was growing larger and larger； they were
rising in the water。 Their mailed roofs became visible from end to end； and
the crowd of observers looking down from the ship were amazed to see
what large vessels they were。 Higher and higher the crabs arose； their
powerful air…pumps working at their greatest capacity； until their
ponderous pincers became visible above the water。 Then into the minds of
the officers of the Llangaron flashed the true object of this uprising； which
to the crew had seemed an intention on the part of the sea… devils to
clamber on board。 If the cylinder were left in its present position the crab
might seize the chains by which it was suspended； while if it were raised it
would cease to be a defence。 Notwithstanding this latter contingency； the
order was quickly given to raise the cylinder； but before the hoisting
engine had been set in motion； Crab Q thrust forward her forceps over the
top of the cylinder and held it down。 Another thrust； and the iron jaws had
grasped one of the two ponderous chains by which the cylinder was
suspended。 The other end of the cylinder began to rise； but at this moment
Crab R； apparently by a single effort； lifted herself a foot higher out of the
sea； her pincers flashed forward； and the other chain was grasped。 The two
crabs were now placed in the most extraordinary position。 The overhang
of their roofs prevented an attack on their hulls by the Llangaron； but their
unmailed hulls were so greatly exposed that a few shot from another ship
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could easily have destroyed them。 But as any ship firing at them would be
very likely to hit the Llangaron； their directors felt safe on this point。
Three of the foremost ironclads； less than two miles away； were heading
directly for them； and their rams might be used with but little danger to the
Llangaron； but； on the other hand； three swift crabs were heading directly
for these ironclads。 It was impossible for Crabs Q and R to operate in the
usual way。 Their massive forceps； lying flat against the top of the cylinder；
could not be twisted。 The enormous chains they held could not be severed
by the greatest pressure； and if both crabs backed at once they would
probably do no more than tow the Llangaron stern foremost。 There was；
moreover； no time to waste in experiments； for other rams would be
coming on； and 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。
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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
