228 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



ing the strain to which the Cable is subjected in its 

 progress. Through the upright grooves of an iron 

 frame, a wheel, UNDER which the Cable passes, slides 

 according to the varying strain, the amount being 

 indicated by figures on the side of the frame. When 

 it is necessary to pick up the Cable, a wire rope is 

 passed from the wheel at the bow, and thence outside 

 the vessel to the stern, where it is brought up and 

 fastened securely to the Cable, which is then cut, and 

 the whole dropping into the sea, the rope is hauled 

 in at the bow until the Cable is brought on board 

 and fixed to the picking -up machinery, which is 

 worked by a small steam-engine, and between this 

 machine and the bow-Avheel is another dynamometer. 

 Lastly, there are rope-stoppers used to retard the pro- 

 gress of the Cable, or the wire rope when in use ; these 

 are made of xmtwisted hemp rope of great thickness, 

 and are twined two or three times round the cable or 

 rope, and the ends being pulled down by the men, 

 the resistance they give is very effectual. To con- 

 clude this explanation in order to ascertain the per- 

 fect continuity of the electric current, signals were 

 continually passed along the whole Cable to Yalentia, 

 and vice versa, and these tests were made every ten 

 or fifteen minutes throughout the day and night. 



And now to resume my narrative. The paying-out 

 of the Cable progressed satisfactorily, the speed in- 

 creasing to six knots per hour, beyond which rate it 

 was not thought advisable to proceed. Things looked 



