PICK UP THE PIECES. 641 



takes it in his hand, paying out as he follows the line of the 

 cable to the wardroom coil. How anxiously the men watch 

 him as he walks that terrible distance of two hundred feet, and 

 think that if he should happen to trip or stumble while he holds 

 that bight in his hand the great enterprise may end in disaster ! 

 It is not a difficult task ; but how often have things that are so 

 easily performed been defeated by want of coolness ! There is, 

 however, such an easy self-possession about the man, as he comes 

 slowly aft with the long black line, that inspires confidence. 

 All hands have deserted the decks below, and follow him as 

 he walks aft, and one, in his impatience to get a glimpse of him, 

 has nearly fallen through the skylight of the engine-room, in 

 which he has smashed several panes of glass in the effort to 

 save himself. 4 Pick up the pieces,' says Paine, in a vein of 

 quiet humor, as he proceeds on his course without interruption, 

 and, coming up to the wheel, which is immediately above the 

 wardroom, he straightens the bight, and the cable begins to run 

 out from the top of the coil on the deck beneath. His work is 

 done; and, as the line passes out of his hands, he receives a 

 round of applause from the hands of the spectators, who, but 

 for those terrible navy rules, would have greeted him with a 

 cheer that would have done his heart good. As it is, they 

 must give vent to their feelings in some way; and the exclama- 

 tions of 'Well done!' 4 That's the fellow!' 'Good boy, Paine!' 

 are not a bad compromise, after all. Besides, it might be 

 rather premature at this time to indulge in any triumphant 

 expression of feeling before we are even in sight of land." 



Upon the seventh day land was discovered from the masthead. 

 "It is now half-past two o'clock, and we are entering Trinity 

 Bay at a speed of seven and a half knots an hour, paying out 

 the cable at a very slight increase on the same rate. The 

 curve which it forms between the ship and the water proves 

 that there is little or no strain upon it, and proves also another 

 thing, — that it can be run out at eight, nine, and, I believe, ten 

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