or a short
distance outside the harbour, came steaming out to meet the enemy.
There were other naval vessels in port, but they required more time to
be put in readiness for action.

As soon as the approach of Scarabaeus was perceived by Repeller No. 1,
a boat bearing a white flag was lowered from that vessel and was
rapidly rowed toward the British ship. When the latter saw the boat
coming she lay to, and waited its arrival. A note was delivered to the
captain of the Scarabaeus, in which it was stated that the Syndicate,
which had undertaken on the part of the United States the conduct of
the war between that country and Great Britain, was now prepared to
demand the surrender of this city with its forts and defences and all
vessels within its harbour, and, as a first step, the immediate
surrender of the vessel to the commander of which this note was
delivered.

The overwhelming effrontery of this demand caused the commander of the
Scarabaeus to doubt whether he had to deal with a raving lunatic or a
blustering fool; but he informed the person in charge of the
flag-of-truce boat, that he would give him fifteen minutes in which to
get back to his vessel, and that he would then open fire upon that
craft.

The men who rowed the little boat were not men-of-war's men, and were
unaccustomed to duties of this kind. In eight minutes they had reached
their vessel, and were safe on board.

Just seven minutes afterward the first shot came from the Scarabaeus.
It passed over Repeller No. 1, and that vessel, instead of replying,
immediately steamed nearer her adversary. The Director-in-chief
desired to determine the effect of an active cannonade upon the new
armour, and therefore ordered the vessel placed in such a position that
the Englishman might have the best opportunity for using it as a target.

The Scarabaeus lost no time in availing herself of the facilities
offered. She was a large and powerful ship, with a heavy armament;
and, soon getting the range of the Syndicate's vessel, she hurled ball
after ball upon her striped side. Repeller No. 1 made no reply, but
quietly submitted to the terrible bombardment. Some of the great shot
jarred her from bow to stern, but not one of them broke a steel spring,
nor penetrated the heavy inside plates.

After half an hour of this, work the Director-in-chief became satisfied
that the new armour had well acquitted itself in the severe trial to
which it had been subjected. Som