THE WORLD OF ICE. 115

ship better, without strong drink than with it, and
the Dolphin’s crew were engaged on the distinct un-
derstanding that coffee, and tea, and chocolate were
to be substituted for rum, and that spirits were never
to be given to any one on board, except in cases of
extreme necessity,

But, to return—although the men worked as only
those can who toil for liberation from long imprison-
ment, no impression worth mentioning could be made
on the ice. At length the attempt to rend it by means
of gunpowder was made.

A jar containing about thirty pounds of powder
was sunk in a hole in an immense block of ice which
lay close against the stern of the ship. Mivins, being
light of foot, was set to fire the train. He did so,
and ran

 

ran so fast that he missed his footing in
leaping over a chasm, and had well-nigh fallen into
the water below. There was a whiz and a loud
report, and the enormous mass of icc heaved upwards
in the centre, and fell back in huge fragments. So
far the result was satisfactory, and the men were
immediately set to sink several charges in various
directions around the vessel, to be in readiness for the
highest tide, which was soon expected. Warps and
hawsers were also got out and fixed to the scaward
masses, ready to heave on them at a moment’s notice 3
the ship was lightened as much as possible by lifting
captain,

 

her stores upon the ice; and the whole crew
mates, and all—worked and heaved like horses, until
the perspiration streamed from their faces, while