THE LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE. 251 



on Monday the 7th of August we made for the buoy, 

 in sight of which the Terrible remained with most 

 laudable pertinacity. At 11 A.M. the grapnel was 

 again lowered, and again was the Cable securely 

 grappled ; but, alas ! a swivel gave way with a loss 

 of 1500 fathoms more of our wire rope, and once 

 more were our hopes doomed to disappointment. 



A consultation was now held amongst the chiefs of 

 the expedition, and it was determined to make a final 

 attempt. There were still 2000 fathoms of wire rope 

 left, but much of this was useless, and had to be cut 

 out, for the strain on it had been so great that the lay 

 of the rope, which, before being lowered, was only 

 ten inches in length, had been pulled out in parts to 

 twenty-seven inches. The shackles and swivels were 

 all taken out and replaced by others made on board, 

 of better material, and capable of bearing a greater 

 strain. Throughout "Wednesday, day and night, the 

 ship presented a scene of great activity. Every car- 

 penter and blacksmith was employed in making such 

 alterations as would most likely prevent the recur- 

 rence of such accidents as caused the two former at- 

 tempts to fail. Little thought of sleep had any one 

 on board. The blacksmith's musical hammer was 

 heard throughout the night, whilst on the busy scene 

 the forges threw a light which would have sent 

 Rembrandt into an ecstasy. 



The picking-up machinery having become disabled 

 from the extraordinary work it had been put to per- 



