Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

358 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. the ordinary course of paying out, the cut end would be reached in a few minutes, and in the meantime the lengthy operation of making a splice had to be performed. There was therefore nothing for it but to stop the ship and restrain the rat© of paying out as far as practicable, without putting too great a stress on the cable. A scene of intense ex- citement ensued, for it seemed impossible out a characteristic feature of this voyage ; for during the next few days the weather asserted itself in most unpromising fashion. Indeed, so far as the Agamemnon was con- cerned, it seemed as though strong head winds were always to be her fate—no matter which way her head was turned—thereby exposing the expedition to ever-increasing chances of disaster. At one time, in fact, it appeared Fig. 2.—COLLISION WITH A WHALE WHILST CABLE-LAYING. that the junction could be completed in time. As a last and desperate resource, paying out was stopped altogether by the application of more brake power and stoppers than was really consistent with safety under prevailing conditions. Fortune favoured the expedition this time, the splice being eventually com- pleted in safety, and paying out was resumed. Moreover, it was discovered that the electrical continuity was, after all, sound. But the ups and downs of luck were through- more than likely that the good ship would run short of coal, and have to resort to burn- ing her masts, and even her decks, to bring her and the cable safely into Valencia. On a certain night the Agamemnon pitched and tossed to such an extent that it seemed impossible for the cable to hold out ; and an untimely end to Great ,, . , , _ , Anxiety. all hopes would undoubtedly have come but for the constant watchful- ness exercised in regard to the paying out