120 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



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 16. 



' 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 break 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 account of breakages in the Atlantic trial trip. 



