pass it.

Perceiving instantly that it would be difficult to strike this nimble
and almost submerged adversary, the commander of the Scarabaeus thought
it well to let it alone for the present, and to bear down with all
speed upon the repeller. But it was easier to hit the crab than to
leave it behind. It was capable of great speed, and, following the
British vessel, it quickly came up with her.

The course of the Scarabaeus was instantly changed, and every effort
was made to get the vessel into a position to run down the crab. But
this was not easy for so large a ship, and Crab A seemed to have no
difficulty in keeping close to her stern.

Several machine-guns, especially adopted for firing at torpedo-boats or
any hostile craft which might be discovered close to a vessel, were now
brought to bear upon the crab, and ball after ball was hurled at her.
Some of these struck, but glanced off without penetrating her tough
armour.

These manoeuvres had not continued long, when the crew of the crab was
ready to bring into action the peculiar apparatus of that peculiar
craft. An enormous pair of iron forceps, each massive limb of which
measured twelve feet or more in length, was run out in front of the
crab at a depth of six or eight feet below the surface. These forceps
were acted upon by an electric engine of immense power, by which they
could be shut, opened, projected, withdrawn, or turned and twisted.

The crab darted forward, and in the next instant the great teeth of her
pincers were fastened with a tremendous grip upon the rudder and
rudder-post of the Scarabaeus.

Then followed a sudden twist, which sent a thrill through both vessels;
a crash; a backward jerk; the snapping of a chain; and in a moment the
great rudder, with half of the rudder-post attached, was torn from the
vessel, and as the forceps opened it dropped to leeward and hung
dangling by one chain.

Again the forceps opened wide; again there was a rush; and this time
the huge jaws closed upon the rapidly revolving screw-propeller. There
was a tremendous crash, and the small but massive crab turned over so
far that for an instant one of its sides was plainly visible above the
water. The blades of the propeller were crushed and shivered; those
parts of the steamer's engines connecting with the propeller-shaft were
snapped and rent apart, while the propeller-shaft itself was broken by
the violent stoppage.

The crab, which had quickly righted,