"Well, that must depend upon the number of parcels of matches we meet with. There will be a good many mines to spring, and one must not explode before another. 'Tis the united force of the several blasts which we must reckon on. The contents of at least four more barrels of powder we must distribute amongst the other chinks and splits in such parcels as they will be able to receive." "And then?" "And then," said I, "we must await the explosion and trust to the mercy of Heaven to help us." He made a hideous face, as if this was a sort of talk to nauseate him, and said, "Do you propose that we should remain on board or watch the effects from a distance?" "Why, remain on board of course," I answered. "Suppose the mines liberated the ice on which the schooner lies and it floated away, what should we, watching at a distance, do?" "True," cried he, "but it is cursed perilous. The explosion might blow the ship up." "No, it will not do that. We shall be bad engineers if we bring such a thing about. The danger will be--providing the schooner is released--in her capsizing, as I have before pointed out." "Enough!" cried he, charging his pannikin for the third time. "We must chance her capsizing." "If I had a crew at my back," said I, "I would carry an anchor and cable to the shoulder of the cliff at the end of the slope to hold the ship if she swam. I would also put a quantity of provisions on the ice along with materials for making us shelter and the whole of the stock of coal, so that we could go on supporting life here if the schooner capsized." "Then," said he, "you would remain ashore during the explosion?" "Most certainly. But as all these preparations would mean a degree of labour impracticable by us two men, I am for the bold venture--prepare and fire the mines, return to the ship, and leave the rest to Providence." He made another ugly face and indulged himself in a piece of profanity that was inexpressibly disgusting and mean in the mouth of a man who was used to cross himself when alarmed and swear by the saints. But perhaps he knew, even better than I, how little he had to expect from Providence. He filled his pipe, exclaiming that when he had smoked it out we should fall to work.