The Press., 1889-05-02


 s.The Lady or the Tiger," ''The Late Mrs. Null," ssThe Hundredth Man," 'The Casting Away of Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine," "The Dusantes,'' etc.
 [Copyrighted by P. F. Collier, of Golfers Once eek and published by special arrangement with i'm through tue American P Press Association. Ali ights reserved.1
 But to the great discomforture of the syndicate's forces darkness had scarcely come on before four enormous electric lights blazed high up on the single lofty mast of the Adamant, lighting up the ocean for mile on every side of the ship. It was of no more use for Crab c to try to get in now than in broad day light; and all night the great guns roared, and the little crab maneuvered.
 The next morning heavy fog fell upon the sea, and the battle ship and Crab c were completely shut out of sight of each other. Now the cannon of the Adamant were silent, for the only result of firing would be to indicate to the crab the location of the British ship. The smoke signals of the towing crab could not be seen through the fog by her con- sorts, and she seemed to be incapable of making signals by sound. Therefore the commander of the Adan2ant thought it likely that until the fog rose the crab could not find his ship.
 What that other crab intended to do could be, of course, on board the Ada mant, only surmise, but it was believed that she would bring with her torpedo to be exploded under the British ship. That one crab should tow her away rom possible aid until another should bring torpedo to fasten to her stern post seemed reasonable explanation of the action of the syndicate's vessels.
 The officers of the Adamant little un- derstood the resources and intentions of their opponents. Every vessel of the syndicate carried a magnetic indicator, which was designed to prevent collisions with iron vessels. This little instrument the bow of the vessel, and a delicate arm of steel, which ordinarily pointed up ward at a considerable angle, fell into horizontal position when any large body of iron approached within quarter of mile; and, so falling, rang small bell. Its point then turned toward the mass of iron.
 Soon after the fog came on one of these indicators, properly protected from the attraction of the metal about it, was put into position on Crab c. Before very long it indicated the proximity of the Adamant; and, guided by its steel point, the crab moved quietly to the ironclad, attached itself to its stern post and allowed the happy crew of Crab K to depart coastward.
 When the fog rose the glasses of the Adamant showed the approach of no crab, but it was observed in looking over the stern that the beggarly devil fish which had the ship in tow appeared to have made some change in it's back.
 In the afternoon of that day truce boat was sent from the repeller to the Adamant. It was allowed to come alongside, but when the British captain found that the syndicate merely renewed it's demand for his surrender he waxed fiercely angry, and sent the boat back with the word that no further message need be sent to him unless it should be one complying with the conditions he had offered.
 The syndicate now gave up the task of inducing the captain of the Adamant to surrender. Crab c was commanded to continue towing the great ship south ward, and to keep her well away from the coast, in order to avoid danger to seaport towns and coasting vessels, while the repeller steamed away.
 Week after week the Adamant moved southward, roaring away with her great guns whenever an American sail came within possible range, and surrounding herself with circle of bursting bombs to let any crab know what it might ex- pect if it attempted to come near. Blaz- ing and laundering, stern foremost but stoutly she rode the waves, ready to show the world that she was an impreg- nable British battle ship, from which no enemy could snatch the royal colors which foated high above her.
 It was during the first week of the in- voluntary cruise of the Adamant that the syndicate finished it's preparations for what it hoped would be the decisive movement of it's campaign. To do this a repeller and six crabs, all with extraor- dinary powers, had been fitted out with great care, and also with great rapidity, for the British government was working night and day to get its fleet of ironclads in readiness for a descent upon the American coast. Many of the British vessels were already well prepared for ordinary naval warfare; but to resist crabs additional defenses were necessary. It was known that the Adamant had been captured, and consequently the manufacture of stern jackets had been abandoned, but it was believed that pro- lection could be effectually given to rud- ders and propeller blades by new method which the admiralty had adopted.
 The repeller which was to take part in the syndicate's proposed movement had been a vessel of the United States navy which for a long time had been out of commission and undergoing 8 course of very slow and desultory repairs in dock yard. She had always been con- sidered the most unlucky craft in the service, and nearly every accident that could happen to a ship had happened to her. Years and years before, when she would set out upon a cruise, her officers and crew would receive the humorous sympathy of their friends, and wagers were frequently laid in regard to the different kinds of n,ishaps which might befan this unlucky vessel, which was then known as the Tallapoosa.
 The syndicate did not particularly de- sire this vessel, but there was no other that could readily be made available for