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heaviest guns should be brought to bear upon his floating counting…house；
and that it should be sunk； if it took all day to do it。 It would have been a
grim satisfaction to the commander of the Lenox to sink Repeller No。 6；
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for he knew the vessel when she had belonged to the United States navy。
Before she had been bought by the Syndicate； and fitted out with spring
armour； he had made two long cruises in her； and he bitterly hated her；
from her keel up。 The director of the repeller agreed to release the Lenox
the instant her commander would consent to return to port。 No answer was
made to this proposition； but a dynamite gun on the Lenox was brought to
bear upon the Syndicate's vessel。 Desiring to avoid any complications
which might ensue from actions of this sort； the repeller steamed ahead；
while the director signalled Crab H to move the stern of the Lenox to the
windward； which； being quickly done； the gun of the latter bore upon the
distant coast。 It was now very plain to the Syndicate director that his
words could have no effect upon the commander of the Lenox； and he
therefore signalled Crab H to tow the United States vessel into port。 When
the commander of the Lenox saw that his vessel was beginning to move
backward； he gave instant orders to put on all steam。 But this was found to
be useless； for when the dynamite gun was about to be fired； the engines
had been ordered stopped； and the moment that the propeller…blades
ceased moving the nippers of the crab had been released from their hold
upon the stern… post； and the propeller…blades of the Lenox were gently but
firmly seized in a grasp which included the rudder。 It was therefore
impossible for the engines of the vessel to revolve the propeller； and；
unresistingly； the Lenox was towed； stern foremost； to the Breakwater。 The
news of this incident created the wildest indignation in the United States
navy； and throughout the country the condemnation of what was
considered the insulting action of the Syndicate was general。 In foreign
countries the affair was the subject of a good deal of comment； but it was
also the occasion of much serious consideration； for it proved that one of
the Syndicate's submerged vessels could； without firing a gun； and without
fear of injury to itself； capture a man…of…war and tow it whither it pleased。
The authorities at Washington took instant action on the affair； and as it
was quite evident that the contract between the United States and the
Syndicate had been violated by the Lenox； the commander of that vessel
was reprimanded by the Secretary of the Navy； and enjoined that there
should be no repetitions of his offence。 But as the commander of the
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Lenox knew that the Secretary of the Navy was as angry as he was at what
had happened； he did not feel his reprimand to be in any way a disgrace。 It
may be stated that the Stockbridge； which had steamed for the open sea as
soon as the business which had detained her was completed； did not go
outside the Cape。 When her officers perceived with their glasses that the
Lenox was returning to port stern foremost； they opined what had
happened； and desiring that their ship should do all her sailing in the
natural way； the Stockbridge was put about and steamed； bow foremost； to
her anchorage behind the Breakwater； the commander thanking his stars
that for once the Lenox had got ahead of him。 The members of the
Syndicate were very anxious to remove the unfavorable impression
regarding what was called in many quarters their attack upon a United
States vessel； and a circular to the public was issued； in which they
expressed their deep regret at being obliged to interfere with so many
brave officers and men in a moment of patriotic enthusiasm； and
explaining how absolutely necessary it was that the Lenox should be
removed from a position where a conflict with English line…of…battle ships
would be probable。 There were many thinking persons who saw the
weight of the Syndicate's statements； but the effect of the circular upon the
popular mind was not great。 The Syndicate was now hard at work making
preparations for the grand stroke which had been determined upon。 In the
whole country there was scarcely a man whose ability could be made
available in their work； who was not engaged in their service； and
everywhere； in foundries； workshops； and ship… yards； the construction of
their engines of war was being carried on by day and by night。 No
contracts were made for the delivery of work at certain times； everything
was done under the direct supervision of the Syndicate and its
subordinates； and the work went on with a definiteness and rapidity
hitherto unknown in naval construction。 In the midst of the Syndicate's
labours there arrived off the coast of Canada the first result of Great
Britain's preparations for her war with the American Syndicate； in the
shape of the Adamant； the largest and finest ironclad which had ever
crossed the Atlantic； and which had been sent to raise the blockade of the
Canadian port by the Syndicate's vessels。 This great ship had been
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especially fitted out to engage in combat with repellers and crabs。 As far as
was possible the peculiar construction of the Syndicate's vessels had been
carefully studied； and English specialists in the line of naval construction
and ordnance had given most earnest consideration to methods of attack
and defence most likely to succeed with these novel ships of war。 The
Adamant was the only vessel which it had been possible to send out in so
short a time； and her cruise was somewhat of an experiment。 If she should
be successful in raising the blockade of the Canadian port；