e object of the
Syndicate to measure its strength with the greatest strength of the
enemy. Anything less than this would not avail its purpose.

Notwithstanding that so many vessels had been sent to different parts
of the coast, there was still in Portsmouth harbour a large number of
war vessels of various classes, all in commission and ready for action.
The greater part of these had received orders to cruise that day in the
channel. Consequently, it was still early in the morning when, around
the eastern end of the Isle of Wight, there appeared a British fleet
composed of fifteen of the finest ironclads, with several gunboats and
cruisers, and a number of torpedo-boats.

It was a noble sight, for besides the warships there was another fleet
hanging upon the outskirts of the first, and composed of craft, large
and small, and from both sides of the channel, filled with those who
were anxious to witness from afar the sea-fight which was to take place
under such novel conditions. Many of these observers were reporters
and special correspondents for great newspapers. On some of the
vessels which came up from the French coast were men with marine
glasses of extraordinary power, whose business it was to send an early
and accurate report of the affair to the office of the War Syndicate in
New York.

As soon as the British ships came in sight, the four crabs cast off
from Repeller No. 11. Then with the other two they prepared for
action, moving considerably in advance of the repeller, which now
steamed forward very slowly. The wind was strong from the north-west,
and the sea high, the shining tops of the crabs frequently disappearing
under the waves.

The British fleet came steadily on, headed by the great Llangaron.
This vessel was very much in advance of the others, for knowing that
when she was really in action and the great cylinder which formed her
stern-guard was lowered into the water her speed would be much
retarded, she had put on all steam, and being the swiftest war-ship of
her class, she had distanced all her consorts. It was highly important
that she should begin the fight, and engage the attention of as many
crabs as possible, while certain of the other ships attacked the
repeller with their rams. Although it was now generally believed that
motor-bombs from a repeller might destroy a man-of-war, it was also
considered probable that the accurate calculations which appeared to be
necessary to precision