man-of-war just coming out of the harbour,
should make an attack upon Repeller No. 1.

It had been plainly proved that ordinary shot and shell had no effect
upon this craft; but it had not been proved that she could withstand
the rams of powerful ironclads. If this vessel, that apparently
carried no guns, or, at least, had used none, could be crushed,
capsized, sunk, or in any way put out of the fight, it was probable
that the dangerous submerged nautical machine would not care to remain
in these waters. If it remained it must be destroyed by torpedoes.

Signals were exchanged between the two English vessels, and in a very
short time they were steaming toward the repeller. It was a dangerous
thing for two vessels of their size to come close enough together for
both to ram an enemy at the same time, but it was determined to take
the risks and do this, if possible; for the destruction of the repeller
was obviously the first duty in hand.

As the two men-of-war rapidly approached Repeller No. 1, they kept up a
steady fire upon her; for if in this way they could damage her, the
easier would be their task. With a firm reliance upon the efficacy of
the steel-spring armour, the Director-in-chief felt no fear of the
enemy's shot and shell; but he was not at all willing that his vessel
should be rammed, for the consequences would probably be disastrous.
Accordingly he did not wait for the approach of the two vessels, but
steering seaward, he signalled for the other crab.

When Crab B made its appearance, puffing its little black jets of
smoke, as it answered the signals of the Director-in-chief, the
commanders of the two British vessels were surprised. They had
imagined that there was only one of these strange and terrible enemies,
and had supposed that she would be afraid to make her peculiar attack
upon one of them, because while doing so she would expose herself to
the danger of being run down by the other. But the presence of two of
these almost submerged engines of destruction entirely changed the
situation.

But the commanders of the British ships were brave men. They had
started to run down the strangely armoured American craft, and run her
down they would, if they could. They put on more steam, and went ahead
at greater speed. In such a furious onslaught the crabs might not dare
to attack them.

But they did not understand the nature nor the powers of these enemies.
In less than twenty minutes Crab A had