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 defences 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 protection could be
effectually given to rudders and propeller-blades by a 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 a course of very slow
and desultory repairs in a dockyard. She had always been considered
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 mishaps which might
befall this unlucky vessel, which was then known as the Tallapoosa.

The Syndicate did not particularly desire this vessel, but there was no
other that could readily be made available for its purposes, and
accordingly the Tallapoosa was purchased from the Government and work
immediately begun upon her. Her engines and hull were put into good
condition, and outside of her was built another hull, composed of heavy
steel armour-plates, and strongly braced by great transverse beams
running through the ship.

Still outside of this was placed an improved system of spring armour,
much stronger and more effective than any which had yet been
constructed. This, with the armour-plate, added nearly fifteen feet to
the width of the vessel above water. All her superstructures were
removed from her deck, which was covered by a curved steel roof, and
under a bomb-proof canopy at the bow were placed two guns capable of
carrying the largest-sized motor-bombs. The Tallapoosa, thus
transformed, was called Repeller No. 11.

The immense addition to her weight would of course
interfere very much with the speed of the new repeller, but this was
considered of little importance, as she would depend on her own engines
only in time of action. She was now believed to possess more perfect
defences than any battle-ship in the world.