it would be ridiculous to disobey; and, moreover, he was
moved by a desire to know something about the Syndicate's mysterious
engine of destruction, if, indeed, such a thing really existed.

Accordingly, when all the others had left the ship, the captain of the
Craglevin and his first officer came on board the repeller, curiously
observing the spring armour over which they passed by means of a light
gang-board with handrail. They were received by the director at one of
the hatches of the steel deck, which were now all open, and conducted
by him to the bomb-proof compartment in the bow. There was no reason
why the nature of the repeller's defences should not be known to world
nor adopted by other nations. They were intended as a protection
against ordinary shot and shell; they would avail nothing against the
instantaneous motor-bomb.

The British officers were shown the motor-bomb to be discharged, which,
externally, was very much like an ordinary shell, except that it was
nearly as long as the bore of the cannon; and the director stated that
although, of course, the principle of the motor-bomb was the
Syndicate's secret, it was highly desirable that its effects and its
methods of operation should be generally known.

The repeller, accompanied by the mail steamer and all the crabs, now
moved to about two miles to the leeward of the Craglevin, and lay to.
The motor-bomb was then placed in one of the great guns, while the
scientific corps attended to the necessary calculations of distance,
etc.

The director now turned to the British captain, who had been observing
everything with the greatest interest, and, with a smile, asked him if
he would like to commit hari-kari?

As this remark was somewhat enigmatical, the director went on to say
that if it would be any gratification to the captain to destroy his
vessel with his own hands, instead of allowing this to be done by an
enemy, he was at liberty to do so. This offer was immediately
accepted, for if his ship was really to be destroyed, the captain felt
that he would like to do it himself.

When the calculations had been made and the indicator set, the captain
was shown the button he must press, and stood waiting for the signal.
He looked over the sea at the Craglevin, which had settled a little at
the stern, and was rolling heavily; but she was still a magnificent
battleship, with the red cross of England floating over her. He could
not help the thought that if