The Great War Syndicate | Page 7

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 this
was not easy for so large a ship, and Crab A seemed to have no
difficulty in keeping close to her stern.
Several machine-guns, especially adopted for firing at torpedo-boats or
any hostile craft which might be discovered close to a vessel, were now

brought to bear upon the crab, and ball after ball was hurled at her.
Some of these struck, but glanced off without penetrating her tough
armour.
These manoeuvres had not continued long, when the crew of the crab
was ready to bring into action the peculiar apparatus of that peculiar
craft. An enormous pair of iron forceps, each massive limb of