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the cable was broken by coral fishers； twice they have had it up to
their own knowledge。
'Many men have been ashore to…day and have come back tipsy； and the
whole ship is in a state of quarrel from top to bottom； and they
will gossip just within my hearing。 And we have had； moreover；
three French gentlemen and a French lady to dinner； and I had to
act host and try to manage the mixtures to their taste。 The good…
natured little Frenchwoman was most amusing； when I asked her if
she would have some apple tart … 〃MON DIEU；〃 with heroic
resignation； 〃JE VEUX BIEN〃； or a little PLOMBODDING … 〃MAIS CE QUE
VOUS VOUDREZ； MONSIEUR！〃
'S。 S。 ELBA； somewhere not far from Bona： Oct。 19。
'Yesterday ＇after three previous days of useless grappling＇ was
destined to be very eventful。 We began dredging at daybreak and
hooked at once every time in rocks； but by capital luck； just as we
were deciding it was no use to continue in that place； we hooked
the cable： up it came； was tested； and lo！ another complete break；
a quarter of a mile off。 I was amazed at my own tranquillity under
these disappointments； but I was not really half so fussy as about
getting a cab。 Well； there was nothing for it but grappling again；
and； as you may imagine； we were getting about six miles from
shore。 But the water did not deepen rapidly； we seemed to be on
the crest of a kind of submarine mountain in prolongation of Cape
de Gonde； and pretty havoc we must have made with the crags。 What
rocks we did hook！ No sooner was the grapnel down than the ship
was anchored； and then came such a business： ship's engines going；
deck engine thundering； belt slipping； fear of breaking ropes：
actually breaking grapnels。 It was always an hour or more before
we could get the grapnel down again。 At last we had to give up the
place； though we knew we were close to the cable； and go further to
sea in much deeper water； to my great fear； as I knew the cable was
much eaten away and would stand but little strain。 Well； we hooked
the cable first dredge this time； and pulled it slowly and gently
to the top； with much trepidation。 Was it the cable？ was there any
weight on？ it was evidently too small。 Imagine my dismay when the
cable did come up； but hanging loosely； thus
＇Picture＇
instead of taut； thus
＇Picture＇
showing certain signs of a break close by。 For a moment I felt
provoked； as I thought； 〃Here we are in deep water； and the cable
will not stand lifting！〃 I tested at once； and by the very first
wire found it had broken towards shore and was good towards sea。
This was of course very pleasant； but from that time to this；
though the wires test very well； not a signal has come from
Spartivento。 I got the cable into a boat； and a gutta…percha line
from the ship to the boat； and we signalled away at a great rate …
but no signs of life。 The tests； however； make me pretty sure one
wire at least is good； so I determined to lay down cable from where
we were to the shore； and go to Spartivento to see what had
happened there。 I fear my men are ill。 The night was lovely；
perfectly calm； so we lay close to the boat and signals were
continually sent； but with no result。 This morning I laid the
cable down to Fort Genois in style； and now we are picking up odds
and ends of cable between the different breaks； and getting our
buoys on board； &c。 To…morrow I expect to leave for Spartivento。'
IV。
And now I am quite at an end of journal keeping； diaries and diary
letters being things of youth which Fleeming had at length
outgrown。 But one or two more fragments from his correspondence
may be taken； and first this brief sketch of the laying of the
Norderney cable； mainly interesting as showing under what defects
of strength and in what extremities of pain； this cheerful man must
at times continue to go about his work。
'I slept on board 29th September having arranged everything to
start by daybreak from where we lay in the roads： but at daybreak
a heavy mist hung over us so that nothing of land or water could be
seen。 At midday it lifted suddenly and away we went with perfect
weather； but could not find the buoys Forde left； that evening。 I
saw the captain was not strong in navigation； and took matters next
day much more into my own hands and before nine o'clock found the
buoys； （the weather had been so fine we had anchored in the open
sea near Texel）。 It took us till the evening to reach the buoys；
get the cable on board； test the first half； speak to Lowestoft；
make the splice； and start。 H… had not finished his work at
Norderney； so I was alone on board for Reuter。 Moreover the buoys
to guide us in our course were not placed； and the captain had very
vague ideas about keeping his course； so I had to do a good deal；
and only lay down as I was for two hours in the night。 I managed
to run the course perfectly。 Everything went well； and we found
Norderney just where we wanted it next afternoon； and if the shore
end had been laid； could have finished there and then； October 1st。
But when we got to Norderney； we found the CAROLINE with shore end
lying apparently aground； and could not understand her signals； so
we had to anchor suddenly and I went off in a small boat with the
captain to the CAROLINE。 It was cold by this time； and my arm was
rather stiff and I was tired； I hauled myself up on board the
CAROLINE by a rope and found H… and two men on board。 All the rest
were trying to get the shore end on shore； but had failed and
apparently had stuck on shore； and the waves were getting up。 We
had anchored in the right place and next morning we hoped the shore
end would be laid； so we had only to go back。 It was of course
still colder and quite night。 I went to bed and hoped to sleep；
but； alas； the rheumatism got into the joints and caused me
terrible pain so that I could not sleep。 I bore it as long as I
could in order to disturb no one； for all were tired； but at last I
could bear it no longer and managed to wake the steward and got a
mustard poultice which took the pain from the shoulder； but then
the elbow got very bad； and I had to call the second steward and
get a second poultice； and then it was daylight； and I felt very
ill and feverish。 The sea was now rather rough … too rough rather
for small boats； but luckily a sort of thing called a scoot came
out； and we got on board her with some trouble； and got on shore
after a good tossing about which made us all sea…sick。 The cable
sent from the CAROLINE was just 60 yards too short and did not
reach the shore； so although the CAROLINE did make the splice late
that night； we could neither test nor speak。 Reuter was at
Norderney； and I had to do the best I could； which was not much；
and went to bed early； I thought I should never sleep again； but in
sheer desp