THE CABLE 113 



* Off Cape Spartivento, June 8. 

 ' At two this morning, we left Cagliari ; at five 

 cast anchor here. I got up and began preparing 

 for the final trial; and shortly afterwards every 

 one else of note on board went ashore to make 

 experiments on the state of the cable, leaving me 

 with the prospect of beginning to lift at 12 o'clock. 

 I was not ready by that time ; but the experiments 

 were not concluded, and moreover the cable was 

 found to be imbedded some four or five feet in sand, 

 so that the boat could not bring off the end. At 

 three, Messrs. Liddell, &c., came on board in good 

 spirits, having found two wires good or in such 

 a state as permitted messages to be transmitted 

 freely. The boat now went to grapple for the cable 

 some way from shore while the Elba towed a small 

 lateen craft which was to take back the consul to 

 Cagliari some distance on its way. On our return 

 we found the boat had been unsuccessful ; she 

 was allowed to drop astern, while we grappled for 

 the cable in the Elba [without more success]. The 

 coast is a low mountain range covered with brush- 

 wood or heather — pools of water and a sandy 

 beach at their feet. I have not yet been ashore, 

 my hands having been very full all day. 



^ June 9. 

 ' Grappling for the cable outside the bank had 

 been voted too uncertain ; [and the day was spent 



H 



