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С˵£º the great war syndicate ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´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¡¡

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