THE LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE. 229 



bright indeed ; and as regards the elements, no ex- 

 pedition could have started under more favourable 

 auspices. The cloudless afternoon had given place 

 to a real summer evening, and watching from the 

 paddle-boxes the magnificent sunset (our first in the 

 broad Atlantic) under the soothing influence of our 

 pipes, we banished all fear and anxiety, already spec- 

 ulating with too sanguine confidence as to the time 

 Ave should reach Newfoundland; and when at last 

 we retired to rest, not one of us dreamed of impending 

 disaster. 



At 4.20 A.M. on the following morning I was 

 aroused from sleep by the booming report of one of 

 our guns that being a preconcerted signal for the 

 men-of-war to stop. I hurried on deck, and to my 

 dismay learned that the signalling was imperfect, in- 

 dicating that some accident had happened to the 

 Cable. Fresh tests were applied over and over again, 

 but ever with the same mortifying result. The com- 

 munication with shore, however, not being wholly 

 stopped, though it was impossible to say how soon 

 that might occur, orders were given to send out the 

 Hawk to our assistance. In the meantime the Cable 

 had been cut, and, being transferred to the machin- 

 ery at the bow, we proceeded to pick it up at the 

 slow rate of one mile per hour. Before this latter 

 operation, however, could be begun, we had paid out 

 twelve miles or more ; so that, supposing, as it was 

 conjectured, the faulty portion of the Cable had 



