THE LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE. 245 



ferred to the bow, the picking-Tip machine was started, 

 and had hauled in about two miles when the boiler of 

 the capstan engine became short of steam, and whilst 

 waiting for a fresh supply the wind suddenly changed. 

 In attempting to get the ship's head to wind she drove 

 over the Cable, causing it to pass under her fore-poop, 

 and foul of the hawse-pipe at the stem on the port- 

 bow. The engines were immediately reversed, and 

 every endeavour was made to get the ship's head 

 round, but without success. As the cable was being 

 chafed, a stopper attached to a manilla rope was put 

 on, and line veered away until the Cable was clear of 

 the hawse-pipes, when it led away round to the star- 

 board. We were hauling in a few revolutions in 

 order to get the chafed parts on board as quickly as 

 possible, when, at twenty -five feet from the bow, 

 with a sharp snap the CABLE BROKE, and, rushing 

 through the stoppers to which the men held on 

 bravely, was sucked into the sea and lost perhaps 

 for ever. 



All the power of language is weak, indeed, to con- 

 vey the effect produced by this disaster. The shock 

 was so sudden and unexpected that we could not im- 

 mediately realise our position. For an instant it par- 

 alysed us ; we looked at each other, but spoke not : 

 yet from out the very silence that fell on us there 

 breathed a mute questioning, as if the tale needed 

 repetition to ensure belief for the announcement was 

 made in a low whisper, 'as if the calamity were too 



