thoroughly understood, for it must be borne in mind that the methods of
operation employed by the crabs were not evident to those on board the
disabled vessels. But everywhere there was the greatest desire to know
what would be done next.

It was the general opinion that the two armoured vessels were merely
tenders to the submerged machines which had done the mischief. Having
fired no guns, nor taken any active part in the combat, there was every
reason to believe that they were intended merely as bomb-proof
store-ships for their formidable consorts. As these submerged vessels
could not attack a town, nor reduce fortifications, but could exercise
their power only against vessels afloat, it was plain enough to see
that the object of the American Syndicate was to blockade the port.
That they would be able to maintain the blockade when the full power of
the British navy should be brought to bear upon them was generally
doubted, though it was conceded in the most wrathful circles that,
until the situation should be altered, it would be unwise to risk
valuable war vessels in encounters with the diabolical sea-monsters now
lying off the port.

In the New York office of the Syndicate there was great satisfaction.
The news received was incorrect and imperfect, but it was evident that,
so far, everything had gone well.

About nine o'clock the next morning, Repeller No. 1, with her consort
half a mile astern, and preceded by the two crabs, one on either bow,
approached to within two miles of the harbour mouth. The crabs, a
quarter of a mile ahead of the repeller, moved slowly; for between them
they bore an immense net, three or four hundred feet long, and thirty
feet deep, composed of jointed steel rods. Along the upper edge of
this net was a series of air-floats, which were so graduated that they
were sunk by the weight of the net a few feet below the surface of the
water, from which position they held the net suspended vertically.

This net, which was intended to protect the repeller against the
approach of submarine torpedoes, which might be directed from the
shore, was anchored at each end, two very small buoys indicating its
position. The crabs then falling astern, Repeller No. 1 lay to, with
the sunken net between her and the shore, and prepared to project the
first instantaneous motor-bomb ever used in warfare.

The great gun in the bow of the vessel was loaded with one of the
largest and most powerful motor-bo