the great war syndicate-µÚ3ÕÂ
°´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£¡
to¡¡move¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡train¡¡of¡¡passenger¡¡cars¡¡one¡¡mile£»
and¡¡this¡¡power¡¡could¡¡be¡¡exerted¡¡instantaneously£»¡¡so
that¡¡the¡¡difference¡¡in¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡starting¡¡of¡¡a¡¡train
at¡¡one¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mile¡¡and¡¡its¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other
would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡appreciable¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡difference¡¡in
concussionary¡¡force¡¡between¡¡a¡¡train¡¡moving¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rate
of¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡in¡¡two¡¡minutes£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡one¡¡minute£»¡¡and
another¡¡train¡¡which¡¡moves¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡can
easily¡¡be¡¡imagined¡£
In¡¡these¡¡bombs£»¡¡those¡¡tubes¡¡which¡¡might¡¡direct
their¡¡powers¡¡downward¡¡or¡¡laterally¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡were
capable¡¡of¡¡instantaneously¡¡propelling¡¡every¡¡portion¡¡of
solid¡¡ground¡¡or¡¡rock¡¡to¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three
hundred¡¡yards£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡particles¡¡of¡¡objects¡¡on¡¡the
surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡were¡¡instantaneously¡¡removed¡¡to¡¡a
far¡¡greater¡¡distance¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tube¡¡which¡¡propelled¡¡the
bomb¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡force¡¡graduated¡¡according¡¡to
circumstances£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡a¡¡bomb¡¡to¡¡as¡¡great¡¡a
distance¡¡as¡¡accurate¡¡observation¡¡for¡¡purposes¡¡of¡¡aim
could¡¡be¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡force¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡action
while¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cannon¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡electricity¡¡while¡¡the
same¡¡effect¡¡was¡¡produced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡tubes¡¡by¡¡the
concussion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡head¡¡against¡¡the¡¡object¡¡aimed
at¡£
What¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡tubes¡¡their¡¡power¡¡was¡¡the¡¡jealously
guarded¡¡secret¡£
The¡¡method¡¡of¡¡aiming¡¡was¡¡as¡¡novel¡¡as¡¡the¡¡bomb
itself¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡process¡¡nothing¡¡depended¡¡on¡¡the
eyesight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gunner£»¡¡the¡¡personal¡¡equation¡¡was
entirely¡¡eliminated¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡so¡¡mounted¡¡that¡¡its
direction¡¡was¡¡accurately¡¡indicated¡¡by¡¡graduated¡¡scales£»
there¡¡was¡¡an¡¡instrument¡¡which¡¡was¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡the
dip£»¡¡rise£»¡¡or¡¡roll¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡showed¡¡at
any¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡with¡¡reference¡¡to
the¡¡plane¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡surface¡£
Before¡¡the¡¡discharge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cannon¡¡an¡¡observation
was¡¡taken¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scientific¡¡men£»¡¡which
accurately¡¡determined¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡object¡¡to¡¡be
aimed¡¡at£»¡¡and¡¡reference¡¡to¡¡a¡¡carefully¡¡prepared
mathematical¡¡table¡¡showed¡¡to¡¡what¡¡points¡¡on¡¡the
graduated¡¡scales¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡should¡¡be¡¡adjusted£»¡¡and¡¡the
instant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡that¡¡the¡¡muzzle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cannon¡¡was¡¡in
the¡¡position¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡when¡¡the¡¡observation¡¡was
taken£»¡¡a¡¡button¡¡was¡¡touched¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bomb¡¡was
instantaneously¡¡placed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡aimed¡¡at¡£¡¡¡¡The
exactness¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡propelling¡¡force¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bomb
could¡¡be¡¡determined¡¡was¡¡an¡¡important¡¡factor¡¡in¡¡this
method¡¡of¡¡aiming¡£
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spring¡armoured¡¡vessels¡¡and
five¡¡¡¨crabs¡¨¡¡were¡¡completed£»¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡felt¡¡itself
ready¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡operations¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡The
seas¡¡had¡¡been¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡American¡¡and¡¡British
merchantmen¡¡hastening¡¡homeward£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡friendly
ports£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡commencement¡¡of¡¡hostilities¡£¡¡
But¡¡all¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡fortunate¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡safety
within¡¡the¡¡limits¡¡of¡¡time¡¡allowed£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡American
merchantmen¡¡had¡¡been¡¡already¡¡captured¡¡by¡¡fast¡¡British
cruisers¡£
The¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡well¡¡understood¡¡that
if¡¡a¡¡war¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡as¡¡they¡¡desired£»¡¡they
must¡¡strike¡¡the¡¡first¡¡real¡¡blow¡£¡¡¡¡Comparatively
speaking£»¡¡a¡¡very¡¡short¡¡time¡¡had¡¡elapsed¡¡since¡¡the
declaration¡¡of¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the
initiative¡¡was¡¡still¡¡open¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡take¡¡this¡¡initiative¡¡that£»¡¡in
the¡¡early¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡a¡¡July¡¡morning£»¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the
Syndicate's¡¡armoured¡¡vessels£»¡¡each¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡a
crab£»¡¡steamed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡New¡¡England¡¡port£»¡¡and¡¡headed¡¡for
the¡¡point¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Canadian¡¡coast¡¡where¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been
decided¡¡to¡¡open¡¡the¡¡campaign¡£
The¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡had¡¡no¡¡individual
names¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡spring¡armoured¡¡ships¡¡were¡¡termed
¡¨repellers£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡were¡¡numbered£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡crabs¡¡were
known¡¡by¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡alphabet¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡repeller
was¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Director¡¡of¡¡Naval¡¡Operations£»¡¡and
the¡¡whole¡¡naval¡¡force¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Syndicate¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the
command¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Director¡in¡chief¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡this¡¡momentous¡¡
occasion¡¡this¡¡officer¡¡was¡¡on¡¡board¡¡of¡¡Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1£»
and¡¡commanded¡¡the¡¡little¡¡fleet¡£
The¡¡repellers¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡great
speed£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡present¡¡armour¡¡of¡¡steel¡¡strips£»¡¡the
lower¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡frequently¡¡under¡¡water£»
considerably¡¡retarded¡¡their¡¡progress£»¡¡but¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them
was¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡tow¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡and¡¡powerful
crabs£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡this¡¡assistance¡¡they¡¡made¡¡very¡¡good
time£»¡¡reaching¡¡their¡¡destination¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡the
second¡¡day¡£
It¡¡was¡¡on¡¡a¡¡breezy¡¡day£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cloudy¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡the
sea¡¡moderately¡¡smooth£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡the
Syndicate¡¡lay¡¡to¡¡off¡¡the¡¡harbour¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the
principal¡¡Canadian¡¡seaports¡£¡¡¡¡About¡¡five¡¡miles¡¡away¡¡the
headlands¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harbour
could¡¡be¡¡plainly¡¡seen¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡decided¡¡that
Repeller¡¡No¡£¡¡1¡¡should¡¡begin¡¡operations¡£¡¡¡¡Accordingly£»
that¡¡vessel¡¡steamed¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡nearer¡¡the¡¡harbour£»
accompanied¡¡by¡¡Crab¡¡A¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡other¡¡repeller¡¡and¡¡crab
remained¡¡in¡¡their¡¡first¡¡position£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡act¡¡in¡¡case
they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡needed¡£
The¡¡approach¡¡of¡¡two¡¡vessels£»¡¡evidently¡¡men¡of¡war£»
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¡¡