In good sooth, it is one of the strangest sights I know to see that
black fellow rising up so steadily in the midst of the blue sea.
We are more than half way to the place where we expect the fault;
and already the one wire, supposed previously to be quite bad near
the African coast, can be spoken through. I am very glad I am
here, for my machines are my own children and I look on their
little failings with a parent's eye and lead them into the path of
duty with gentleness and firmness. I am naturally in good spirits,
but keep very quiet, for misfortunes may arise at any instant;
moreover to-morrow my paying-out apparatus will be wanted should
all go well, and that will be another nervous operation. Fifteen
miles are safely in; but no one knows better than I do that nothing
is done till all is done.
'June 11.
'9 A.M. - We have reached the splice supposed to be faulty, and no
fault has been found. The two men learned in electricity, L- and
W-, squabble where the fault is.
'EVENING. - A weary day in a hot broiling sun; no air. After the
experiments, L- said the fault might be ten miles ahead: by that
time, we should be according to a chart in about a thousand fathoms
of water - rather more than a mile.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157