The Florida agriculturist., 1889-05-15
SECTION TX.


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 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 Liam
garon 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.
She now moved slowly through the
water, and her men greeted the advanc-
ing crabs with yells of defiance, and a
shower of shot from machine guns.
The character of the new defense
which had been fitted to the Llangaron
was known to the syndicate, and the
directors of the two new crabs under
stood the heavy piece of work which
lay before them. But their plans of ac-
tion had been well considered, and they
made straight for the stern of the British
ship.
1t was, of course, impossible to en-
deavor to grasp that great cylinder with
its rounded ends; their forceps would
slip from any portion of it's smooth sur
face on which they should endeavor to
lay hold, and no such attempt was made.
Keeping near the cylinder, one at each
end of it, the two moved slowly after the
Llangaron, apparently discouraged.
In short time, however, it was per-
ceived by those on board the ship, that
change had taken place in the appear
ance of the crabs: the visible portion of
their backs was growing larger and
larger; they were rising in the water.
Their mailed roofs became visible from
end to end. and the crowd of observers
looking down from the ship were amazed
to see what large vessels they were.
Higher and higher the crabs arose,
their powerful air pumps working at
their greatest capacity, until their pom
derous pincers became visible above the
water. Then into the minds of the off
GERS of the Llangaron flashed the true
object of this uprising, which to the
crew had seemed an intention on the
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board
If the cylinder were left in it's present
position the crab might seize the chains
by which it was suspended, while if it
were raised it would cease to be a de-
fense. Notwithstanding this latter con-
tingeney. the order was quickly given to
raise the cylinder, but before the hoist
ing engine had been set in motion Crab
G thrust forward her forceps over the
top of the cylinder and held it down
Another thrust, and the iron jaws had
grasped one of the two ponderous chains
by which the cylinder was suspended.
The other end of the cylinder began to
rise, but at this moment Grab R, appar
emily by single effort, lifted herself a
foot higher ou- of the sea; her pincers
flashed forward. and the other chain was
grasped.
The two crabs were now placed in the
most extraordinary position. The over
hang of their roofs prevented an attack
on their hulls by the Llangaron, but
their unmailed hulls were so greatly ex
posed that few shot from another ship
could easily have destroyed them. But
as any ship firing at them would be very
likely to hit the Llangaron, their direc-
tors felt safe on this point