Monday, May 31st, 10 A.M., hove to, lat. 47° 11´, long. 9° 37´. Up to midday engaged in making splice between experimental cable in fore coil and that in main hold, besides other minor operations. In afternoon getting hawser from Niagara and her portion of cable to make joint and splice. 4 P.M., commenced splice; 5.15 splice completed; 5.25, let go splice-frame (weight 3 cwt.) over gangway, amidships, starboard side.[27] 5.30, after getting splice-frame (containing the splice) clear of the ship and lowering it to the bottom, each vessel (then about a quarter of a mile apart) commenced paying out in opposite directions. 9 P.M., got on board Niagara's warp and her end of cable to make another splice for second experiment. June 1st.--1 A.M. (night), electrical continuity gone, the cable having parted after two miles in all had been paid out.[28] Since 1 A.M., engaged in hauling in our cable. Recovered all our portion, and even managed to heave up the splice-frame (in perfect condition), besides 100 fathoms of Niagara's cable, which she had parted. Fastened splice to stern of vessel and ceased operations. 9.23 A.M., second experiment. Started paying-out again. Weather very misty. 9.40, one mile paid out at strain 16 cwt.; angle of cable 16° with the horizon: running out straight; rate of ship 2, cable 3. 9.45, changed to lower hold. 9.56, two miles out; last mile in 16-1/2 minutes; strain 17 to 20 cwt.; angle of cable 20°. 10.10, last of the three miles out in 14 minutes. 10.32 A. M., four and a half miles out. Third experiment--stopped ship, lowered guard, stoppered cable. 10.50, buoy let go, strain 16 cwt. when let go, the cable being nearly up and down. 11.6, running at rate of 5-1/2 knots paying out, strain 21 to 23 cwt., varying. Cable shortly afterward parted through getting jammed in the machinery. The subsequent experiments were mainly in the direction of buoying, picking up, and passing the cable from the stern to the bow sheave for picking up. All of these operations were in turn successfully performed; and finally, in paying out a speed of seven knots was attained without difficulty. During all this time electrical communication had been maintained between the ships; and it is somewhat remarkable that, through this more or less damaged cable, the electricians were able to work a needle-instrument and obtain a deflection on it of 70 degrees. [Illustration: FIG. 25.--Experimental Maneuvers in the Bay of Biscay.] And now, the program being exhausted, the ships returned to Plymouth. On the whole, the trip had proved eminently satisfactory. The paying-out machinery had worked well, the various engineering operations had been successfully performed, and the electrical working through the whole cable was perfect. CHAPTER VI THE STORM