Valiantlytheboatsbesetthecrabs，keepingupaconstantfusillade，andendeavouringtothrowgrapnelsoverthem。Ifoneoftheseshouldcatchunderanoverlappingarmour-plateitcouldbeconnectedwiththesteamwindlassoftheAdamant，andaplatemightberippedofforacraboverturned。
Butthecrabsprovedtobemuchmorelivelyfishthantheirenemieshadsupposed。Turning，asifonapivot，anddartingfromsidetoside，theyseemedtobeplayingwiththeboats，andnottryingtogetawayfromthem。ThespringarmourofCrabKinterferedsomewhatwithitsmovements，andalsoputitindangerfromattacksbygrapnels，anditthereforeleftmostoftheworktoitsconsort。
CrabJ，afterdartingswiftlyinandoutamongherantagonistsforsometime，suddenlymadeaturn，anddashingatoneoftheboats，ranunderit，andraisingitonitsglisteningback，rolledit，bottomupward，intothesea。Inamomentthecrewoftheboatwereswimmingfortheirlives。Theywerequicklypickedupbytwooftheotherboats，whichthendeemeditprudenttoreturntotheship。
ButthesecondofficeroftheAdamant，whocommandedthefourthboat，didnotgiveupthefight。
HavingnotedthespringarmourofCrabK，hebelievedthatifhecouldgetagrapnelbetweenitssteelribsheyetmightcapturethesea-monster。ForsomeminutesCrabKcontenteditselfwitheludinghim;but，tiredofthis，itturned，andraisingitshugenippersalmostoutofthewater，itseizedthebowoftheboat，andgaveitagentlecrunch，afterwhichitreleaseditsholdandretired。Theboat，leakingrapidlythroughtworaggedholes，wasrowedbacktotheship，whichitreachedhalffullofwater。