這一次,幾乎所有人都陷入了絕望,除了菲爾德和他的幾個朋友還在堅持著。菲爾德憑借自己的努力成功說服了投資人,開始了新的嚐試。這次執行艱巨任務的是“大東方”號,它緩緩駛入海洋,開始重複之前的工作。起初,一切都很順利,在橫跨紐芬蘭600英裏處,電纜線再次被割斷,並沉入到海底之中。
菲爾德沒有因為眼前的失敗而退縮。他重新組織人員,繼續研發,製造出了一種質量遠遠優於普通電纜的新型電纜。1866年7月13日,菲爾德和他的同伴們終於順利接通了電纜,並發出了第一份橫跨大西洋直達紐約的電報:
“我們已於今天早上9時到達目的地,一切都很順利。感謝上帝!電纜終於成功鋪好,且運行正常——希拉斯?菲爾德。”
不久,喜訊再次傳來,之前墜入海底的那條電纜最終被打撈並修複好,並一直通向紐芬蘭。時至今日,這兩條電纜仍運行良好,並且還會在將來繼續造福人類。
心靈小語
有的時候,我們不能成功,不是因為能力不夠,而是缺少恒心。
記憶填空
1. The__ night, when the ship was moving but four miles an hour and the cable running out at the rate of six miles, the brakes were applied too__ just as the steamer gave a heavy lurch, breaking the cable.
2. Directors were disheartened, the public skeptical, capitalists were shy, and__ for the indomitable energy and persuasiveness of Mr. Field, who worked day and__ almost without food or__, the whole project would have been abandoned.
3. Faith now seemed__ except in the breast of Cyrus W. Field, and one or two friends, yet with such persistence__ they work that they persuaded men to furnish capital for another trial__ against what seemed their better judgment.
佳句翻譯
1. 決心已定,他便全身心地投入到這項事業中。