The Great War Syndicate | Page 8

which
measured twelve feet or more in length, was run out in front of the crab
at a depth of six or eight feet below the surface. These forceps were
acted upon by an electric engine of immense power, by which they
could be shut, opened, projected, withdrawn, or turned and twisted.
The crab darted forward, and in the next instant the great teeth of her
pincers were fastened with a tremendous grip upon the rudder and
rudder-post of the Scarabaeus.
Then followed a sudden twist, which sent a thrill through both vessels;
a crash; a backward jerk; the snapping of a chain; and in a moment the
great rudder, with half of the rudder-post attached, was torn from the
vessel, and as the forceps opened it dropped to leeward and hung
dangling by one chain.
Again the forceps opened wide; again there was a rush; and this time
the huge jaws closed upon the rapidly revolving screw-propeller. There
was a tremendous crash, and the small but massive crab turned over so
far that for an instant one of its sides was plainly visible above the
water. The blades of the propeller were crushed and shivered; those
parts of the steamer's engines connecting with the propeller-shaft were
snapped and rent apart, while the propeller- shaft itself was broken by
the violent stoppage.
The crab, which had quickly righted, now backed, still holding the
crushed propeller in its iron grasp, and as it moved away from the
Scarabaeus, it extracted about forty feet of its propeller-shaft; then,
opening its massive jaws, it allowed the useless mass of iron to drop to
the bottom of the sea.
Every man on board the Scarabaeus was wild with amazement and

excitement. Few could comprehend what had happened, but this very
quickly became evident. So far as motive power was concerned, the
Scarabaeus was totally, disabled. She could not direct her course, for
her rudder was gone, her propeller was gone, her engines were useless,
and she could do no more than float as wind or tide might move her.
Moreover, there was a jagged hole in her stern where the shaft had been,
and through this the water was pouring into the vessel. As a
man-of-war the Scarabaeus was worthless. Orders now came fast from
Repeller No. 1, which had moved nearer to the scene of conflict. It was
to be supposed that the disabled ship was properly furnished with
bulk-heads, so that the water would penetrate no farther than the stern
compartment, and that, therefore, she was in no danger of sinking. Crab
A was ordered to make fast to the bow of the Scarabaeus, and tow her
toward two men-of-war who were rapidly approaching from the
harbour.
This proceeding astonished the commander and officers of the
Scarabaeus almost as much as the extraordinary attack which had been
made upon their ship. They had expected a demand to surrender and
haul down their flag; but the Director-in-chief on board Repeller No. 1
was of the opinion that with her propeller extracted it mattered little
what flag she flew. His work with the Scarabaeus was over; for it had
been ordered by the Syndicate that its vessels should not encumber
themselves with prizes.
Towed by the powerful crab, which apparently had no fear that its
disabled adversary might fire upon it, the Scarabaeus moved toward the
harbour, and when it had come within a quarter of a mile of the
foremost British vessel, Crab A cast off and steamed back to Repeller
No. 1.
The other English vessels soon came up, and each lay to and sent a boat
to the Scarabaeus. After half an hour's consultation, in which the
amazement of those on board the damaged vessel was communicated to
the officers and crews of her two consorts, it was determined that the
smaller of these should tow the disabled ship into port, while the other
one, in company with a man-of-war just coming out of the harbour,

should make an attack upon Repeller No. 1.
It had been plainly proved that ordinary shot and shell had no effect
upon this craft; but it had not been proved that she could withstand the
rams of powerful ironclads. If this vessel, that apparently carried no
guns, or, at least, had used none, could be crushed, capsized, sunk, or in
any way put out of the fight, it was probable that the dangerous
submerged nautical machine would not care to remain in these waters.
If it remained it must be destroyed by torpedoes.
Signals were exchanged between the two English vessels, and in a very
short time they were steaming toward the repeller. It was a dangerous
thing for two vessels of their size to come close enough together for
both to ram an enemy at the