alty had adopted a new method
of defence for the rudders and screw-propellers of naval vessels
against the attacks of submerged craft. The work of constructing the
new appliances had been pushed forward as fast as possible, but so far
only one of these had been finished and attached to a man-of-war.

The Llangaron was a recently built ironclad of the same size and class
as the Adamant; and to her had been attached the new stern-defence.
This was an immense steel cylinder, entirely closed, and rounded at the
ends. It was about ten feet in diameter, and strongly braced inside.
It was suspended by chains from two davits which projected over the
stern of the vessel. When sailing this cylinder was hoisted up to the
davits, but when the ship was prepared for action it was lowered until
it lay, nearly submerged, abaft of the rudder. In this position its
ends projected about fifteen feet on either side of the
propeller-blades.

It was believed that this cylinder would effectually prevent a crab
from getting near enough to the propeller or the rudder to do any
damage. It could not be torn away as the stern-jacket had been, for
the rounded and smooth sides and ends of the massive cylinder would
offer no hold to the forceps of the crabs; and, approaching from any
quarter, it would be impossible for these forceps to reach rudder or
screw.

The Syndicate's little fleet arrived in British waters late in the day,
and early the next morning it appeared about twenty miles to the south
of the Isle of Wight, and headed to the north-east, as if it were
making for Portsmouth. The course of these vessels greatly surprised
the English Government and naval authorities. It was expected that an
attack would probably be made upon some comparatively unprotected spot
on the British seaboard, and therefore on the west coast of Ireland and
in St. George's Channel preparations of the most formidable character
had been made to defend British ports against Repeller No. 11 and her
attendant crabs. Particularly was this the case in Bristol Channel,
where a large number of ironclads were stationed, and which was to have
been the destination of the Llangaron if the Syndicate's vessels had
delayed their coming long enough to allow her to get around there.
That this little fleet should have sailed straight for England's great
naval stronghold was something that the British Admiralty could not
understand. The fact was not appreciated that it was th