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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
150
Though
not
unexpected,
this
last
breaking
of
the
cable
was
a
sad
blow
to
all
on
board.
It
was
the
end
of
their
hopes,
at
least
for
the
present
expedition.
Before
separating,
it
had
been
agreed,
that
if
the
cable
should
part
again
before
either
ship
had
run
a
hundred
miles,
they
should
return
and
renew
the
attempt.
If
they
had
passed
that
limit,
they
were
all
to
sail
for
Ireland.
But
the
Niagara
had
run
out
a
hundred
and
eleven
miles,
and
knowing
that
the
Agamemnon
had
done
about
the
same,
she
expected
the
latter
would
keep
on
her
course
eastward,
not
stopping
till
she
reached
Queenstown.
The
Niagara,
therefore,
reluctantly
bore
away
for
the
same
port.
Of
course,
the
return
voyage
was
"any
thing
but
gay."
When
soldiers
come
home
from
the
war,
they
march
with
a
proud
step,
if
they
have
had
a
victorious
campaign.
But
it
is
otherwise
when
they
come
with
a
sad
tale
of
disaster
and
defeat.
Seldom
had
an
expedition
begun
with
higher
hopes,
or
ended
in
more
complete
failure.
Who
could
help
feeling
keenly
this
fresh
disappointment?
Even
with
all
the
courage
"that
may
become
a
man,"
heightened
by
a
natural
buoyancy
of
spirits,
how
was
it
possible
to
resist
the
impression
of
the
facts
they
had
just
witnessed?
If--as
Lord
Carlisle
had
told
them
the
year
before--"there
was
almost
enough
of
glory
in
the
very
design
of
an
Atlantic
telegraph,"
that
glory
might
still
be
theirs.
But
apparently
they
could
hope
for
nothing
more.
They
had
done
all
that
men
could
do.
But
fate
seemed
against
them;
and
who
can
fight
against
destiny?
No
one
can
blame
them
if
they
sometimes
had
sore
misgivings,
and
looked
out
sadly
upon
the
sea
that
had
baffled
their
utmost
skill,
and
now
laughed
their
efforts
to
scorn.
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