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a torpedo…boat was in pursuit。 Fast as was the latter； the crab was faster；
and quite as easily managed。 She was in a position of great danger； and her
only safety lay in keeping herself on a line between the torpedo…boat and
the gun…boat； and to shorten as quickly as possible the distance between
herself and that vessel。 If the torpedo…boat shot to one side in order to get
the crab out of line； the crab； its back sometimes hidden by the tossing
waves； sped also to the same side。 When the torpedo…boat could aim a gun
at the crab and not at the gun…boat； a deadly torpedo flew into the sea； but
a tossing sea and a shifting target were unfavourable to the gunner's aim。 It
was not long； however； before the crab had run the chase which might so
readily have been fatal to it； and was so near the gun…boat that no more
torpedoes could be fired at it。 Of course the officers and crew of the gun…
boat had watched with most anxious interest the chase of the crab。 The
vessel was one which had been fitted out for service with dynamite guns；
of which she carried some of very long range for this class of artillery； and
she had been ordered to get astern of the repeller and to do her best to put
a few dynamite bombs on board of her。 The dynamite gun…boat therefore
had kept ahead at full speed； determined to carry out her instructions if she
should be allowed to do so； but her speed was not as great as that of a crab；
and when the torpedo… boat had given up the chase； and the dreaded crab
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was drawing swiftly near； the captain thought it time for bravery to give
place to prudence。 With the large amount of explosive material of the most
tremendous and terrific character which he had on board； it would be the
insanity of courage for him to allow his comparatively small vessel to be
racked； shaken； and partially shivered by the powerful jaws of the on…
coming foe。 As he could neither fly nor fight； he hauled down his flag in
token of surrender； the first instance of the kind which had occurred in this
war。 When the director of Crab Q； through his lookout… glass； beheld this
action on the part of the gun…boat； he was a little perplexed as to what he
should next do。 To accept the surrender of the British vessel； and to
assume control of her； it was necessary to communicate with her。 The
communications of the crabs were made entirely by black…smoke signals；
and these the captain of the gun…boat could not understand。 The heavy
hatches in the mailed roof which could be put in use when the crab was
cruising； could not be opened when she was at her fighting depth； and in a
tossing sea。 A means was soon devised of communicating with the gun…
boat。 A speaking…tube was run up through one of the air…pipes of the crab；
which pipe was then elevated some distance above the surface。 Through
this the director hailed the other vessel； and as the air…pipe was near the
stern of the crab； and therefore at a distance from the only visible portion
of the turtle… back roof； his voice seemed to come out of the depths of the
ocean。 The surrender was accepted； and the captain of the gun…boat was
ordered to stop his engines and prepare to be towed。 When this order had
been given； the crab moved round to the bow of the gun…boat； and
grasping the cut…water with its forceps； reversed its engines and began to
back rapidly toward the British fleet； taking with it the captured vessel as a
protection against torpedoes while in transit。 The crab slowed up not far
from one of the foremost of the British ships； and coming round to the
quarter of the gun…boat； the astonished captain of that vessel was informed；
through the speaking…tube； that if he would give his parole to keep out of
this fight； he would be allowed to proceed to his anchorage in Portsmouth
harbour。 The parole was given； and the dynamite gun…boat； after reporting
to the flag…ship； steamed away to Portsmouth。 The situation now became
one which was unparalleled in the history of naval warfare。 On the side of
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THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE
the British； seven war…ships were disabled and drifting slowly to the south…
east。 For half an hour no advance had been made by the British fleet； for
whenever one of the large vessels had steamed ahead； such vessel had
become the victim of a crab； and the Vice…Admiral commanding the fleet
had signalled not to advance until farther orders。 The crabs were also
lying…to； each to the windward of； and not far from； one of the British
ships。 They had ceased to make any attacks； and were resting quietly
under protection of the enemy。 This； with the fact that the repeller still lay
four miles away； without any apparent intention of taking part in the battle；
gave the situation its peculiar character。 The British Vice…Admiral did not
intend to remain in this quiescent condition。 It was； of course； useless to
order forth his ironclads； simply to see them disabled and set adrift。 There
was another arm of the service which evidently could be used with better
effect upon this peculiar foe than could the great battle…ships。 But before
doing anything else； he must provide for the safety of those of his vessels
which had been rendered helpless by the crabs； and some of which were
now drifting dangerously near to each other。 Despatches had been sent to
Portsmouth for tugs； but it would not do to wait until these arrived； and a
sufficient number of ironclads were detailed to tow their injured consorts
into port。 When this order had been given； the Vice…Admiral immediately
prepared to renew the fight； and this time his efforts were to be directed
entirely against the repeller。 It would be useless to devote any further
attention to the crabs； especially in their present positions。 But if the chief
vessel of the Syndicate's fleet； with its spring armour and its terrible
earthquake bombs； could be destroyed； it was quite possible that those sea…
parasites； the crabs； could also be disposed of。 Every torpedo…boat was
now ordered to the front； and in a long line； almost abreast of each other；
these swift vesselsthe light…infantry of the sea advanced upon the
solitary and distant foe。 If one torpedo could but reach her hull； the Vice…
Admiral； in spite of seven disabled ironclads and a captured gun… boat；
might yet gaze proudly at his floating flag； even if h