Having learned all these particulars as to the essentials of warm air, and good water, and having heard an account of the four years’ provisions, with a certainty that there was a still further supply near the Copper Mine River in case of need: and having learned also that the doctors had got ample supplies of lime-juice and lemon-juice to keep off the scurvy, and that they had mixed it with alcohol to render it less liable to freeze; having seen, too, that the purser, thoughtful man, had not forgotten to order in some sound-looking casks of pale sherry, and some cases that had an agreeable champagney French look, and these sights having strengthened the hope that the brave men who were to take these ships on their perilous duty would have their hearts warmed by a glass of generous wine when they drank to absent friends next Christmas Day—we had time to glance over what may be called the miscellaneous stores for the voyage. These made a picture, indeed. Everything of every possible kind seemed to be there, and to have been multiplied by two. Thus there were two screw propellers, and two rudders, and two funnels. And then there were certainly twice two dozen ice-saws (with teeth an inch long and handles eight feet wide), and ice-hatchets enough apparently to slay any number of Polar bears who might feel inclined to call upon this ‘Pioneer’ during his visit to their neighbourhood. Between decks the place looked like a mingled establishment made up of a rope-walk, a sailmaker’s, a currier’s, a brushmaker’s, a dreadnought clothier’s, a cooper’s, and a very extensive oil and colour warehouse. There were certainly goods enough pertaining to all these various trades to set up one man of each with an abundant stock in any street in Bermondsey he might select. Over head, there was a ceiling of oars and spare spars, and handspikes, and capstan-bars; at the sides, rows of blocks, and lanthorns, and cans, and paint-brushes; and under-foot, bars of iron cased with neatly-sewed leather. This last peculiarity, indeed, was observable in many parts of the ship. Wherever there was any iron it was neatly cased over with leather, to secure those who might have to handle it in the Polar seas from the well-known consequences of touching naked iron in those latitudes,—for cold iron there, like red-hot iron elsewhere, damages the fingers of those rash enough to touch it. This abundance to overflow of stores extended itself even to the commander’s cabin, for every inch of space was important. That spot, however, showed no confusion or cramming, though he had near him two of the most dangerous commodities in his ship,—underneath his _sanctum_ was a store of ardent spirits, and astern of it a small magazine of gunpowder.