The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 09Stevenson, Robert Louis
General
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 09
Stevenson, Robert Louis
English literature -- 19th century
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 had
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, etc. 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account