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our own anchor is foul of it and has been the means of bringing it
to light。 We let go a grapnel； get the cable clear of the anchor
on to the grapnel … the captain in an agony lest we should drift
ashore meanwhile … hand the grappling line into the big boat； steam
out far enough； and anchor again。 A little more work and one end
of the cable is up over the bows round my drum。 I go to my engine
and we start hauling in。 All goes pretty well； but it is quite
dark。 Lamps are got at last； and men arranged。 We go on for a
quarter of a mile or so from shore and then stop at about half…past
nine with orders to be up at three。 Grand work at last！ A number
of the SATURDAY REVIEW here； it reads so hot and feverish； so
tomblike and unhealthy； in the midst of dear Nature's hills and
sea； with good wholesome work to do。 Pray that all go well to…
morrow。
'June 10。
'Thank heaven for a most fortunate day。 At three o'clock this
morning in a damp； chill mist all hands were roused to work。 With
a small delay； for one or two improvements I had seen to be
necessary last night； the engine started and since that time I do
not think there has been half an hour's stoppage。 A rope to
splice； a block to change； a wheel to oil； an old rusted anchor to
disengage from the cable which brought it up； these have been our
only obstructions。 Sixty； seventy； eighty； a hundred； a hundred
and twenty revolutions at last； my little engine tears away。 The
even black rope comes straight out of the blue heaving water：
passes slowly round an open…hearted； good…tempered looking pulley；
five feet diameter； aft past a vicious nipper； to bring all up
should anything go wrong； through a gentle guide； on to a huge
bluff drum； who wraps him round his body and says 〃Come you must；〃
as plain as drum can speak： the chattering pauls say 〃I've got
him； I've got him； he can't get back：〃 whilst black cable； much
slacker and easier in mind and body； is taken by a slim V…pulley
and passed down into the huge hold； where half a dozen men put him
comfortably to bed after his exertion in rising from his long bath。
In good sooth； it is one of the strangest sights I know to see that
black fellow rising up so steadily in the midst of the blue sea。
We are more than half way to the place where we expect the fault；
and already the one wire； supposed previously to be quite bad near
the African coast； can be spoken through。 I am very glad I am
here； for my machines are my own children and I look on their
little failings with a parent's eye and lead them into the path of
duty with gentleness and firmness。 I am naturally in good spirits；
but keep very quiet； for misfortunes may arise at any instant；
moreover to…morrow my paying…out apparatus will be wanted should
all go well； and that will be another nervous operation。 Fifteen
miles are safely in； but no one knows better than I do that nothing
is done till all is done。
'June 11。
'9 A。M。 … We have reached the splice supposed to be faulty； and no
fault has been found。 The two men learned in electricity； L… and
W…； squabble where the fault is。
'EVENING。 … A weary day in a hot broiling sun； no air。 After the
experiments； L… said the fault might be ten miles ahead： by that
time； we should be according to a chart in about a thousand fathoms
of water … rather more than a mile。 It was most difficult to
decide whether to go on or not。 I made preparations for a heavy
pull； set small things to rights and went to sleep。 About four in
the afternoon； Mr。 Liddell decided to proceed； and we are now （at
seven） grinding it in at the rate of a mile and three…quarters per
hour； which appears a grand speed to us。 If the paying…out only
works well！ I have just thought of a great improvement in it； I
can't apply it this time； however。 … The sea is of an oily calm；
and a perfect fleet of brigs and ships surrounds us； their sails
hardly filling in the lazy breeze。 The sun sets behind the dim
coast of the Isola San Pietro； the coast of Sardinia high and
rugged becomes softer and softer in the distance； while to the
westward still the isolated rock of Toro springs from the horizon。
… It would amuse you to see how cool （in head） and jolly everybody
is。 A testy word now and then shows the wires are strained a
little； but everyone laughs and makes his little jokes as if it
were all in fun： yet we are all as much in earnest as the most
earnest of the earnest bastard German school or demonstrative of
Frenchmen。 I enjoy it very much。
'June 12。
'5。30 A。M。 … Out of sight of land： about thirty nautical miles in
the hold； the wind rising a little； experiments being made for a
fault； while the engine slowly revolves to keep us hanging at the
same spot： depth supposed about a mile。 The machinery has behaved
admirably。 Oh！ that the paying…out were over！ The new machinery
there is but rough； meant for an experiment in shallow water； and
here we are in a mile of water。
'6。30。 … I have made my calculations and find the new paying…out
gear cannot possibly answer at this depth； some portion would give
way。 Luckily； I have brought the old things with me and am getting
them rigged up as fast as may be。 Bad news from the cable。 Number
four has given in some portion of the last ten miles： the fault in
number three is still at the bottom of the sea： number two is now
the only good wire and the hold is getting in such a mess； through
keeping bad bits out and cutting for splicing and testing； that
there will be great risk in paying out。 The cable is somewhat
strained in its ascent from one mile below us； what it will be when
we get to two miles is a problem we may have to determine。
'9 P。M。 … A most provoking unsatisfactory day。 We have done
nothing。 The wind and sea have both risen。 Too little notice has
been given to the telegraphists who accompany this expedition； they
had to leave all their instruments at Lyons in order to arrive at
Bona in time； our tests are therefore of the roughest； and no one
really knows where the faults are。 Mr。 L… in the morning lost much
time； then he told us； after we had been inactive for about eight
hours； that the fault in number three was within six miles； and at
six o'clock in the evening； when all was ready for a start to pick
up these six miles； he comes and says there must be a fault about
thirty miles from Bona！ By this time it was too late to begin
paying out today； and we must lie here moored in a thousand fathoms
till light to…morrow morning。 The ship pitches a good deal； but
the wind is going down。
'June 13； Sunday。
'The wind has not gone down； however。 It now （at 10。30） blows a
pretty stiff gale； the sea has also risen； and the ELBA'S bows rise
and fall about 9 feet。 We make twelve pitches to the minute； and
the poor cable must feel very sea…sick by this time。 We are quite
unable to do anything； and continue riding at anchor in one
thousand fathoms； the engines going constantly so as to keep the
ship's bows up to the cable； which by this means hangs nearly
vertical and sustains no strain but that caused by its own weight
and the pitching of the vessel。 We were all up at four； but the
weather entirely forbade work for to…day； so some went to bed and
most lay down； making up our leeway as we nautically term our loss
of sleep。 I must say Liddell is a fine fellow and keeps his
patience and temper wonderfully； and yet how he does fret and fume
about trifles at home！ This wind has blown now for 36 hours； and
yet we have telegrams from Bona to say the sea there is as calm as
a mirror。 It makes one laugh to remember one is still tied to the
shore。 Click； click； click； the pecker is at work： I wonder what
Herr P… says to Herr L…； … tests； tests； tests； nothing more。 This
will be a very anxious day。
'June 14。
'Another day of fatal inaction。
'June 15。
'9。30。 … The wind has gone down a deal； but even now there are
doubts whether we shall start to…day。 When shall I get back to
you？
'9 P。M。 … Four miles from land。 Our run has been successful and
eventless。 Now the work is nearly over I feel a little out of
spirits … why； I should be puzzled to say … mere wantonness； or
reaction perhaps after suspense。
'June 16。
'Up this morning at three； coupled my self…acting gear to the brake
and had the satisfaction of seeing it pay out the last four miles
in very good style。 With one or two little improvements； I hope to
make it a capital thing。 The end has just gone ashore in two
boats； three out of four wires good。 Thus ends our first
expedition。 By some odd chance a TIMES of June the 7th has found
its way on board through the agency of a wretched old peasant who
watches the end of the line here。 A long accou