the cable was still
uninjured astern, and our spirits rose; when--will you believe
it?--after going a short distance astern, the pilot ran us once more
fast aground on what seemed to me nearly the same spot. The very same
scene was gone through as on the first occasion, and dark came on
whilst the wind shifted, and we were still aground. Dinner was served
up, but poor Mr. Liddell could eat very little; and bump, bump, grind,
grind, went the ship fifteen or sixteen times as we sat at dinner. The
slight sea, however, did enable us to bump off. This morning we appear
not to have suffered in any way; but a sea is rolling in, which a few
hours ago would have settled the poor old _Elba_.

"_June --._

"The Alexandria cable has again failed; after paying out two-thirds of
the distance successfully, an unlucky touch in deep water snapped the
line. Luckily the accident occurred in Mr. Liddell's watch. Though
personally it may not really concern me, the accident weighs like a
personal misfortune. Still, I am glad I was present: a failure is
probably more instructive than a success; and this experience may
enable us to avoid misfortune in still greater undertakings.

"_June --._

"We left Syra the morning after our arrival on Saturday the 4th. This
we did (first) because we were in a hurry to do something, and
(second) because, coming from Alexandria, we had four days' quarantine
to perform. We were all mustered along the side while the doctor
counted us; the letters were popped into a little tin box and taken
away to be smoked; the guardians put on board to see that we held no
communication with the shore--without them we should still have had
four more days' quarantine; and with twelve Greek sailors besides, we
started merrily enough picking up the Canea cable.... To our utter
dismay, the yarn covering began to come up quite decayed, and the
cable, which when laid should have borne half a ton, was now in danger
of snapping with a tenth part of that strain. We went as slow as
possible in fear of a break at every instant. My watch was from eight
to twelve in the morning, and during that time we had barely secured
three miles of cable. Once it broke inside the ship, but I seized hold
of it in time--the weight being hardly anything--and the line for the
nonce was saved. Regular nooses were then planted inboard with men to
draw them taut, should th