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and a delicate arm of steel； which ordinarily pointed upward at a
considerable angle； fell into a horizontal position when any large body of
iron approached within a quarter of a mile； and； so falling； rang a small
bell。 Its point then turned toward the mass of iron。 Soon after the fog came
on； one of these indicators； properly protected from the attraction of the
metal about it； was put into position on Crab C。 Before very long it
indicated the proximity of the Adamant； and； guided by its steel point； the
Crab moved quietly to the ironclad； attached itself to its stern…post； and
allowed the happy crew of Crab K to depart coastward。 When the fog rose
the glasses of the Adamant showed the approach of no crab； but it was
observed； in looking over the stern； that the beggarly devil…fish which had
the ship in tow appeared to have made some change in its back。 In the
afternoon of that day a truce boat was sent from the repeller to the
Adamant。 It was allowed to come alongside； but when the British captain
found that the Syndicate merely renewed its demand for his surrender； he
waxed fiercely angry； and sent the boat back with the word that no further
message need be sent to him unless it should be one complying with the
conditions he had offered。 The Syndicate now gave up the task of inducing
the captain of the Adamant to surrender。 Crab C was commanded to
continue towing the great ship southward； and to keep her well away from
the coast； in order to avoid danger to seaport towns and coasting vessels；
while the repeller steamed away。 Week after week the Adamant moved
southward； roaring away with her great guns whenever an American sail
came within possible range； and surrounding herself with a circle of
bursting bombs to let any crab know what it might expect if it attempted to
come near。 Blazing and thundering； stern foremost； but stoutly； she rode
the waves； ready to show the world that she was an impregnable British
battle…ship； from which no enemy could snatch the royal colours which
floated high above her。 It was during the first week of the involuntary
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cruise of the Adamant that the Syndicate finished its preparations for what
it hoped would be the decisive movement of its campaign。 To do this a
repeller and six crabs； all with extraordinary powers； had been fitted out
with great care； and also with great rapidity； for the British Government
was working night and day to get its fleet of ironclads in readiness for a
descent upon the American coast。 Many of the British vessels were already
well prepared for ordinary naval warfare； but to resist crabs additional
defences were necessary。 It was known that the Adamant had been
captured； and consequently the manufacture of stern…jackets had been
abandoned； but it was believed that protection could be effectually given
to rudders and propeller…blades by a new method which the Admiralty had
adopted。 The repeller which was to take part in the Syndicate's proposed
movement had been a vessel of the United States navy which for a long
time had been out of commission； and undergoing a course of very slow
and desultory repairs in a dockyard。 She had always been considered the
most unlucky craft in the service； and nearly every accident that could
happen to a ship had happened to her。 Years and years before； when she
would set out upon a cruise； her officers and crew would receive the
humorous sympathy of their friends； and wagers were frequently laid in
regard to the different kinds of mishaps which might befall this unlucky
vessel； which was then known as the Tallapoosa。 The Syndicate did not
particularly desire this vessel； but there was no other that could readily be
made available for its purposes； and accordingly the Tallapoosa was
purchased from the Government and work immediately begun upon her。
Her engines and hull were put into good condition； and outside of her was
built another hull； composed of heavy steel armour… plates； and strongly
braced by great transverse beams running through the ship。 Still outside of
this was placed an improved system of spring armour； much stronger and
more effective than any which had yet been constructed。 This； with the
armour…plate； added nearly fifteen feet to the width of the vessel above
water。 All her superstructures were removed from her deck； which was
covered by a curved steel roof； and under a bomb…proof canopy at the bow
were placed two guns capable of carrying the largest… sized motor…bombs。
The Tallapoosa； thus transformed； was called Repeller No。 11。 The
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
immense addition to her weight would of course interfere very much with
the speed of the new repeller； but this was considered of little importance；
as she would depend on her own engines only in time of action。 She was
now believed to possess more perfect defences than any battle…ship in the
world。 Early on a misty morning； Repeller No。 11； towed by four of the
swiftest and most powerful crabs； and followed by two others； left a
Northern port of the United States； bound for the coast of Great Britain。
Her course was a very northerly one； for the reason that the Syndicate had
planned work for her to do while on her way across the Atlantic。 The
Syndicate had now determined； without unnecessarily losing an hour； to
plainly demonstrate the power of the instantaneous motor…bomb。 It had
been intended to do this upon the Adamant； but as it had been found
impossible to induce the captain of that vessel to evacuate his ship； the
Syndicate had declined to exhibit the efficiency of their new agent of
destruction upon a disabled craft crowded with human beings。 This course
had been highly prejudicial to the claims of the Syndicate； for as Repeller
No。 7 had made no use in the contest with the Adamant of the motor…
bombs with which she was said to be supplied； it was generally believed
on both sides of the Atlantic that she carried no