252 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



form, and being at all times but ill adapted for rais- 

 ing the grapnel, it was resolved to use the capstan 

 alone for that purpose ; but the diameter of the latter 

 being too small in the centre, strong timbers were 

 fitted and fixed so as to increase it from two feet six 

 to five feet six inches ; it was then cased with sheets 

 of iron firmly riveted, giving it the appearance of a 

 solid drum. There being only about 1700 fathoms 

 of wire rope fit for use, the extra portion required was 

 made up of a thick hemp rope and a good-looking 

 manilla rope, which seemed capable of bearing any 

 strain. All was now ready for our final attempt, and 

 anxiously we longed to commence operations. 



On Thursday, the 10th of August, the wind, which 

 had blown hard throughout the two previous days, 

 accompanied by a drenching rain, suddenly dropped, 

 and shifted to a point very favourable for enabling 

 the vessel to drift over the Cable, which we hoped 

 to grapple much nearer the broken end, so as to 

 have as little strain as possible in hauling it on 

 board. At 7.45 A.M. the grapnel was lowered, and 

 slowly we drifted towards the desired spot ; but the 

 summer gale had caused the buoys to shift their 

 places, so that it was noon before we could ascer- 

 tain the right position. At 1 P.M. the strain increas- 

 ing gave us hopes that we had grappled the Cable, 

 but it soon ceased, and at 4 P.M., it being concluded 

 that we had passed over it, orders were given to haul 

 in and make a fresh attempt. 



