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of furious billows uplifted itself in a storm of spray and foam； raging that
it had found its place usurped。 Slowly turning； the repeller discharged
bomb after bomb； building up out of the very sea itself a barrier against its
enemies。 Under these thundering cataracts； born in an instant； and coming
down all at once in a plunging storm； into these abysses； with walls of
water and floors of cleft and shivered rocks； through this wide belt of
raging turmoil； thrown into new frenzy after the discharge of every bomb；…
…no vessel； no torpedo； could pass。 The air driven off in every direction by
tremendous and successive concussions came rushing back in shrieking
gales； which tore up the waves into blinding foam。 For miles in every
direction the sea swelled and upheaved into great peaked waves； the
repeller rising upon these almost high enough to look down into the awful
chasms which her bombs were making。 A torpedo… boat caught in one of
the returning gales was hurled forward almost on her beam ends until she
was under the edge of one of the vast masses of descending water。 The
flood which； from even the outer limits of this falling…sea； poured upon
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and into the unlucky vessel nearly swamped her； and when she was swept
back by the rushing waves into less stormy waters； her officers and crew
leaped into their boats and deserted her。 By rare good…fortune their boats
were kept afloat in the turbulent sea until they reached the nearest torpedo…
vessel。 Five minutes afterward a small but carefully aimed motor…bomb
struck the nearly swamped vessel； and with the roar of all her own
torpedoes she passed into nothing。 The British Vice…Admiral had carefully
watched the repeller through his glass； and he noticed that simultaneously
with the appearance of the cloud in the air produced by the action of the
motor…bombs there were two puffs of black smoke from the repeller。 These
were signals to the crabs to notify them that a motor… gun had been
discharged； and thus to provide against accidents in case a bomb should
fail to act。 One puff signified that a bomb had been discharged to the north；
two； that it had gone eastward； and so on。 if； therefore； a crab should see a
signal of this kind； and perceive no signs of the action of a bomb； it would
be careful not to approach the repeller from the quarter indicated。 It is true
that in case of the failure of a bomb to act； another bomb would be
dropped upon the same spot； but the instructions of the War Syndicate
provided that every possible precaution should be taken against accidents。
Of course the Vice…Admiral did not understand these signals； nor did he
know that they were signals； but he knew that they accompanied the
discharge of a motor… gun。 Once he noticed that there was a short cessation
in the hitherto constant succession of water avalanches； and during this lull
he had seen two puffs from the repeller； and the destruction； at the same
moment； of the deserted torpedo…boat。 It was； therefore； plain enough to
him that if a motor…bomb could be placed so accurately upon one torpedo…
boat； and with such terrible result； other bombs could quite as easily be
discharged upon the other torpedo…boats which formed the advanced line
of the fleet。 When the barrier of storm and cataract again began to stretch
itself in front of the repeller； he knew that not only was it impossible for
the torpedo…boats to send their missives through this raging turmoil； but
that each of these vessels was itself in danger of instantaneous destruction。
Unwilling； therefore； to expose his vessels to profitless danger； the Vice…
Admiral ordered the torpedo…boats to retire from the front； and the whole
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line of them proceeded to a point north of the fleet； where they lay to。
When this had been done； the repeller ceased the discharge of bombs； but
the sea was still heaving and tossing after the storm； when a despatch…boat
brought orders from the British Admiralty to the flagship。 Communication
between the British fleet and the shore； and consequently London； had
been constant； and all that had occurred had been quickly made known to
the Admiralty and the Government。 The orders now received by the Vice…
Admiral were to the effect that it was considered judicious to discontinue
the conflict for the day； and that he and his whole fleet should return to
Portsmouth to receive further orders。 In issuing these commands the
British Government was actuated simply by motives of humanity and
common sense。 The British fleet was thoroughly prepared for ordinary
naval warfare； but an enemy had inaugurated another kind of naval
warfare； for which it was not prepared。 It was； therefore； decided to
withdraw the ships until they should be prepared for the new kind of
warfare。 To allow ironclad after ironclad to be disabled and set adrift； to
subject every ship in the fleet to the danger of instantaneous destruction；
and all this without the possibility of inflicting injury upon the enemy；
would not be bravery； it would be stupidity。 It was surely possible to
devise a means for destroying the seven hostile ships now in British waters。
Until action for this end could be taken； it was the part of wisdom for the
British navy to confine itself to the protection of British ports。 When the
fleet began to move toward the Isle of Wight； the six crabs； which had
been lying quietly among and under the protection of their enemies；
withdrew southward； and； making a slight circuit； joined the repeller。 Each
of the disabled ironclads was now in tow of a sister vessel； or of tugs；
except the Llangaron。 This great ship had been disabled so early in the
contest； and her broadside had presented such a vast surface to the north…
west wind； that she had drifted much farther to the south than any other
vessel。 Consequently； before the arrival of the tugs which had been sent
for to tow her into harbour； the Llangaron was well on her way across the
channel。 A foggy night came on； and the next morning she was ashore on
the coast of France； with a mile of water between her and dry land。 Fast…
rooted in a great sand…bank； she lay week after week； with the storms that
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came in from the Atlantic； and the storms that came in from the German
Ocean； beating upon her tall side of solid iron； with no more effect than if
it had been a precipice of rock。 Against waves and winds she formed a
massive breakwater； with a wide stretch of smooth sea between her and
the land。 There she lay； proof against all the artillery of Europe； and all the
artillery of the sea and the storm； until a fleet of small vessels had taken
from her her ponderous armament； her coal and stores； and she had been
lightened enough to float upon a high tide； and to follow three tugs to
Portsmouth。 When night came on； Repeller No。 11 and the crabs dropped
down with the tide； and lay to some miles west of the scene of battle。 The
fog shut them in fairly well； but； fearful that torpedoes might be sent out
against them； they showed no lights。 There was little danger； of collision
with passing merchantmen； for the English Channel； at present； was
deserted by this class of vessels。 The next morning the repeller； preceded
by two crabs； bearing between them a submerged net similar to that used
at the Canadian port； appeared off the eastern end of the Isle of Wight。 The
anchors of the net were dropped； and behind it the repeller took her place；
and shortly afterward she sent a flag…of…truce boat to Portsmouth harbour。
This boat carried a note from the American War Syndicate to the British
Government。 In this note it was stated that it was now the intention of the
Syndicate to utterly destroy； by means of the instantan