126 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



got frightened that, if it was the small cable which 

 we had got hold of, we should certainly break it by 

 continuing the tremendous and increasing strain. 

 So at last Mr. Liddell decided to stop ; cut the 

 big cable, buoying its end ; go back to our pleasant 

 watering-place at Chia, take more water and start 

 lifting the small cable. The end of the large one 

 has even now regained its sandy bed ; and three 

 buoys — one to grapnel foul of the supposed small 

 cable, two to the big cable — are dipping about on 

 the surface. One more — a flag-buoy — will soon 

 follow, and then straight for shore. 



'June 20. 



' It is an ill-wind, &c. I have an unexpected 

 opportunity of forwarding this engineering letter ; 

 for the craft which brought out our Italian sailors 

 must return to Cagliari to-night, as the little cable 

 will take us nearly to Galita, and the Italian skipper 

 could hardly find his way from thence. To-day — 

 Sunday — not much rest. Mr. Liddell is at Sparti- 

 vento telegraphing. We are at Chia, and shall 

 shortly go to help our boat's crew in getting the 

 small cable on board. We dropped them some time 

 since in order that they might dig it out of the sand 

 as far as possible. 



'June 21, 



' Yesterday — Sunday as it was — all hands were 

 kept at work all day, coaling, watering, and making 



