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themselves to conquer； whatever might be the conditions of the contest。
The destruction of the Syndicate's fleet would now be a heavy blow to the
United States。 It would produce an utter want of confidence in the councils
and judgments of the Syndicate； which could not be counteracted by the
strongest faith in the efficiency of their engines of war； and it was feared it
might become necessary； even at this critical juncture； to annul the
contract with the Syndicate； and to depend upon the American navy for the
defence of the American coast。 Even among the men on board the
Syndicate's fleet there were signs of doubt and apprehensions of evil。 It
had all been very well so far； but fighting one ship at a time was a very
different thing from steaming into the midst of a hundred ships。 On board
the repeller there was now an additional reason for fears and misgivings。
The unlucky character of the vessel when it had been the Tallapoosa was
known； and not a few of the men imagined that it must now be time for
some new disaster to this ill…starred craft； and if her evil genius had
desired fresh disaster for her； it was certainly sending her into a good place
to look for it。 But the Syndicate neither doubted nor hesitated nor paid any
attention to the doubts and condemnations which they heard from every
quarter。 Four days after the news of the destruction of the Craglevin had
been telegraphed from Canada to London； the Syndicate's fleet entered the
English Channel。 Owing to the power and speed of the crabs； Repeller No。
11 had made a passage of the Atlantic which in her old naval career would
have been considered miraculous。 Craft of various kinds were now passed；
but none of them carried the British flag。 In the expectation of the arrival
of the enemy； British merchantmen and fishing vessels had been advised
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to keep in the background until the British navy had concluded its business
with the vessels of the American Syndicate。 As has been said before； the
British Admiralty had adopted a new method of defence for the rudders
and screw…propellers of naval vessels against the attacks of submerged
craft。 The work of constructing the new appliances had been pushed
forward as fast as possible； but so far only one of these had been finished
and attached to a man…of…war。 The Llangaron was a recently built ironclad
of the same size and class as the Adamant； and to her had been attached
the new stern…defence。 This was an immense steel cylinder； entirely closed；
and rounded at the ends。 It was about ten feet in diameter； and strongly
braced inside。 It was suspended by chains from two davits which projected
over the stern of the vessel。 When sailing this cylinder was hoisted up to
the davits； but when the ship was prepared for action it was lowered until
it lay； nearly submerged； abaft of the rudder。 In this position its ends
projected about fifteen feet on either side of the propeller…blades。 It was
believed that this cylinder would effectually prevent a crab from getting
near enough to the propeller or the rudder to do any damage。 It could not
be torn away as the stern…jacket had been； for the rounded and smooth
sides and ends of the massive cylinder would offer no hold to the forceps
of the crabs； and； approaching from any quarter； it would be impossible
for these forceps to reach rudder or screw。 The Syndicate's little fleet
arrived in British waters late in the day； and early the next morning it
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 h