Again two weapons were discharged, and now two boats were sent to the bottom, the sailors after struggling for a few minutes sinking also.
“They will do, they will do!” cried the old man, in glee; “but catapults are, after all, but an old device. Now will I show thee something new, for as thou dost perceive, all the ships of the enemy, being irritated by me, now are rowing towards the walls to assault, and some of them bear at their bow long and wide ladders, with pent-houses at their ends, which they can rear, by pulleys from the mast-head, against our walls. Others, again, have battering-rams with which to charge the foundations. We can leave those with the long ladders, which the Romans call sambucæ or harps, and pay our attention first to yonder vessel in front with the battering-ram. See, it approaches us. Now, my men, ready with the crane. Swing round!”
As the ship, propelled by the rowers, came quite close to the wall, a huge crane swung easily round on a pivot. A heavy chain hung from its end, to which was attached a huge pair of open hands formed of iron. These hands descended above the prow of the doomed vessel.
“Press!” cried Archimedes.
Instantly the iron hands seized the prow of the vessel in an iron grip.
“Raise!” cried Archimedes.
At once, by the mechanism of the machine, the prow of the vessel was raised clean up into the air, all the sailors on deck tumbling off the stern into the sea.
“Fasten!” cried the old man.
The ship remained fastened thus in a bolt upright position, the sailors meanwhile drowning all around its stern.
“Let go!” cried the old mechanician.