242 TEAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



nature than the first. There was no delay this time. 

 As soon as possible the vessel was stopped, and the 

 Cable cut and transferred to the bow ; but again, 

 owing to the want of steam, two miles or more had 

 been paid out before the machine was ready to pick 

 up the submerged portion. It was the unanimous 

 opinion of the electricians that the fault was only 

 two miles distant (it being, in fact, on board when 

 discovered) ; and exactly that amount of Cable having 

 been hauled in, the defective part was brought to 

 light. Again had a piece of the same wire penetrated 

 the Cable; this time right through, touching the 

 copper wire, and destroying the continuity of the 

 electric current. The affair looked black indeed. At 

 7 P.M., the splice being made, another mishap occurred 

 in transferring the Cable to the stern. At all times 

 this operation is attended with some danger, owing 

 to the length of the ship and the many obstruc- 

 tions to be avoided ; and, if possible, I cannot but 

 think that it would be safer to have the picking-up 

 machinery placed aft, though, no doubt, there would 

 then be danger of the Cable getting entangled with 

 the screw ; add to which, the difficulty of steering so 

 large a vessel going astern, which would in that case 

 have to be done whenever the picking-up process was 

 resorted to. This accident being soon repaired, once 

 more we anxiously resumed our course. 



Mr Canning, having cut off the piece of Cable 

 which had the broken wire through it, called the men 



