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appeared about twenty miles to the south of the Isle of Wight； and headed
to the north…east； as if it were making for Portsmouth。 The course of these
vessels greatly surprised the English Government and naval authorities。 It
was expected that an attack would probably be made upon some
comparatively unprotected spot on the British seaboard； and therefore on
the west coast of Ireland and in St。 George's Channel preparations of the
most formidable character had been made to defend British ports against
Repeller No。 11 and her attendant crabs。 Particularly was this the case in
Bristol Channel； where a large number of ironclads were stationed； and
which was to have been the destination of the Llangaron if the Syndicate's
vessels had delayed their coming long enough to allow her to get around
there。 That this little fleet should have sailed straight for England's great
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naval stronghold was something that the British Admiralty could not
understand。 The fact was not appreciated that it was the object of the
Syndicate to measure its strength with the greatest strength of the enemy。
Anything less than this would not avail its purpose。 Notwithstanding that
so many vessels had been sent to different parts of the coast； there was still
in Portsmouth harbour a large number of war vessels of various classes； all
in commission and ready for action。 The greater part of these had received
orders to cruise that day in the channel。 Consequently； it was still early in
the morning when； around the eastern end of the Isle of Wight； there
appeared a British fleet composed of fifteen of the finest ironclads； with
several gunboats and cruisers； and a number of torpedo…boats。 It was a
noble sight； for besides the warships there was another fleet hanging upon
the outskirts of the first； and composed of craft； large and small； and from
both sides of the channel； filled with those who were anxious to witness
from afar the sea…fight which was to take place under such novel
conditions。 Many of these observers were reporters and special
correspondents for great newspapers。 On some of the vessels which came
up from the French coast were men with marine glasses of extraordinary
power； whose business it was to send an early and accurate report of the
affair to the office of the War Syndicate in New York。 As soon as the
British ships came in sight； the four crabs cast off from Repeller No。 11。
Then with the other two they prepared for action； moving considerably in
advance of the repeller； which now steamed forward very slowly。 The
wind was strong from the north…west； and the sea high； the shining tops of
the crabs frequently disappearing under the waves。 The British fleet came
steadily on； headed by the great Llangaron。 This vessel was very much in
advance of the others； for knowing that when she was really in action and
the great cylinder which formed her stern…guard was lowered into the
water her speed would be much retarded； she had put on all steam； and
being the swiftest war…ship of her class； she had distanced all her consorts。
It was highly important that she should begin the fight； and engage the
attention of as many crabs as possible； while certain of the other ships
attacked the repeller with their rams。 Although it was now generally
believed that motor…bombs from a repeller might destroy a man… of…war； it
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was also considered probable that the accurate calculations which
appeared to be necessary to precision of aim could not be made when the
object of the aim was in rapid motion。 But whether or not one or more
motor…bombs did strike the mark； or whether or not one or more vessels
were blown into fine particles； there were a dozen ironclads in that fleet；
each of whose commanders and officers were determined to run into that
repeller and crush her； if so be they held together long enough to reach her。
The commanders of the torpedo…boats had orders to direct their swift
messengers of destruction first against the crabs； for these vessels were far
in advance of the repeller； and coming on with a rapidity which showed
that they were determined upon mischief。 If a torpedo； shot from a
torpedo…boat； and speeding swiftly by its own powers beneath the waves；
should strike the submerged hull of a crab； there would be one crab the
less in the English Channel。 As has been said； the Llangaron came rushing
on； distancing everything； even the torpedo…boats。 If； before she was
obliged to lower her cylinder； she could get near enough to the almost
stationary repeller to take part in the attack on her； she would then be
content to slacken speed and let the crabs nibble awhile at her stern。 Two
of the latest constructed and largest crabs； Q and R； headed at full speed to
meet the Llangaron； who； as she came on； opened the ball by sending a
〃rattler〃 in the shape of a five…hundred…pound shot into the ribs of the
repeller； then at least four miles distant； and immediately after began firing
her dynamite guns； which were of limited range at the roofs of the
advancing crabs。 There were some on board the repeller who； at the
moment the great shot struck her； with a ringing and clangour of steel
springs； such as never was heard before； wished that in her former state of
existence she had been some other vessel than the Tallapoosa。 But every
spring sprang back to its place as the great mass of iron glanced off into
the sea。 The dynamite bombs flew over the tops of the crabs； whose rapid
motions and slightly exposed surfaces gave little chance for accurate aim；
and in a short time they were too close to the Llangaron for this class of
gun to be used upon them。 As the crabs came nearer； the Llangaron
lowered the great steel cylinder which hung across her stern； until it lay
almost entirely under water； and abaft of her rudder and propeller…blades。
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She now moved slowly through