THE LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE. 243 



together, and one by one asked their opinion on the 

 matter. Almost unanimously they declared that the 

 disaster could not have been the result of accident ; 

 and such was their indignation, that, supposing their 

 verdict to be correct, the culprit, if discovered, would 

 have met with no mercy at their hands. Still, with- 

 out ascribing the disasters which had occurred to 

 malice, it was determined by Messrs Canning and 

 Clifford that every possible precaution should be 

 taken ; and for this purpose they requested the 

 inmates of the saloon to take their watch by turn in 

 the tank day and night. This was readily acceded 

 to, the men even acquiescing in the arrangement, 

 though with regret. Certainly it was painful to 

 doubt their honesty, especially as so many of them 

 had been for years in Mr Canning's service ; but this 

 precaution was as useful to them as to him, for when 

 the peculiar nature of the accidents be considered, 

 taking into account their similarity, together with 

 the conclusion arrived at by the men themselves, 

 with this startling fact, moreover, that they all 

 di-nirred during the same watch ; and knowing, as I 

 have said, that such had occurred before, it was 

 difficult to avoid the suspicion of foul play, and that 

 some one man, either through malice or hope of gain, 

 had been the cause of these misfortunes. It must be 

 said, hoAvever, that Captain Anderson, after much 

 reflection, cast aside all idea of mischief, believing 

 that accident often produces stranger coincidences 



