Sixty artificers formed the “army of labour” organized to carry out all M. Raynaud’s bold designs. Lodgings had to be provided for them, inasmuch as the navigation was too uncertain, and the time during which boats could anchor much too short, to admit of their being daily carried back to the mainland. Fortunately, at a very short distance from the place chosen for the works, two aiguilles, or needle-rocks, were found, sufficiently elevated to remain constantly above the level of the water. The interval between them was filled up partly with rough stones and partly with masonry, until an elevation of thirteen feet above the sea was secured; and a platform was thus constructed sufficiently durable for the purpose to which it was intended to put it. Here were planted the huts of the men, and the framework of a beacon which was to carry a provisional light. You may suppose, gentle reader, that there was no room to be wasted. In the beacon was placed, besides the store-room and the keeper’s lodgings, the chamber for the accommodation of the engineer; his bivouacking hut was on the right; by blowing up a portion of the rock, a long but narrow apartment was obtained for the overseers; on the left, in front, stood the kitchen and larder; at the side, the workmen’s dining-room; behind, their sitting and bed-room, which was well filled. The beds were placed as close to each other as possible, in two tiers. A third range was situated in the refectory, above the table. And, lastly, on a projecting crag, to the left, means had been found to erect a small forge, which had but one defect, that it was often impossible to keep it lighted at high water. At first the workmen were allowed to supply themselves as they pleased with provisions; but some cases of scurvy having broken out, the engineer felt the necessity of enforcing upon them a regular bill of fare. For this purpose he established a canteen, and bound down its owner to keep a stock sufficient for six week‘ supply, as a precaution against possible bad weather, which might cut off all communication with the mainland. At this canteen each workman was compelled to obtain his rations. Other hygienic measures were adopted. The hammocks were every morning exposed in the open air, and once a week the lodging-rooms were lime-washed. Once a week, too, the whole company bathed. Thanks to these precautions, the terrible malady whose approach had been apprehended was driven from the island, and the sanitary condition of so great a number of men herded together in a very limited compass remained constantly satisfactory.