complications which
might ensue from actions of this sort, the repeller steamed ahead,
while the director signalled Crab H to move the stern of the Lenox to
the windward, which, being quickly done, the gun of the latter bore
upon the distant coast.

It was now very plain to the Syndicate director that his words could
have no effect upon the commander of the Lenox, and he therefore
signalled Crab H to tow the United States vessel into port. When the
commander of the Lenox saw that his vessel was beginning to move
backward, he gave instant orders to put on all steam. But this was
found to be useless, for when the dynamite gun was about to be fired,
the engines had been ordered stopped, and the moment that the
propeller-blades ceased moving the nippers of the crab had been
released from their hold upon the stern-post, and the propeller-blades
of the Lenox were gently but firmly seized in a grasp which included
the rudder. It was therefore impossible for the engines of the vessel
to revolve the propeller, and, unresistingly, the Lenox was towed,
stern foremost, to the Breakwater.

The news of this incident created the wildest indignation in the United
States navy, and throughout the country the condemnation of what was
considered the insulting action of the Syndicate was general. In
foreign countries the affair was the subject of a good deal of comment,
but it was also the occasion of much serious consideration, for it
proved that one of the Syndicate's submerged vessels could, without
firing a gun, and without fear of injury to itself, capture a
man-of-war and tow it whither it pleased.

The authorities at Washington took instant action on the affair, and as
it was quite evident that the contract between the United States and
the Syndicate had been violated by the Lenox, the commander of that
vessel was reprimanded by the Secretary of the Navy, and enjoined that
there should be no repetitions of his offence. But as the commander of
the Lenox knew that the Secretary of the Navy was as angry as he was at
what had happened, he did not feel his reprimand to be in any way a
disgrace.

It may be stated that the Stockbridge, which had steamed for the open
sea as soon as the business which had detained her was completed, did
not go outside the Cape. When her officers perceived with their
glasses that the Lenox was returning to port stern foremost, they
opined what had happened, and desiring that their ship should do all