Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-22

saying he crawled into the companion and
squatted beside me. "What has it done
for us2'
81 don't know yet" said 7, "but believe
the schooner is uninjured That was power
full shockl" / CRIED as n half dozen Of bags
blow up together in the crevices deep down.
The thunder and turnult of the rending ice,
accompanied by the heavy explosions Of the
gunpowder, SO dulled the hearing that it was
difficult to speak. That the mines had &C
complished our end was not yet to be known;
but there could not be the least doubt that
they had not only occasioned tremendous
ruptures low down in the ice, but that the
volcanic influence was extending far beyond
its first effects by making one split produce
another, one weak part give way and create
other weaknesses, and SO on, all round about
us and under our keel, as was clearly to be
gathered by the shivering and spasms Of the
schooner, ami by tho growls, roars, blasts
and huddle of terrifying sounds which arose
from the frozen floor.
1t was twenty minutes after the hour at
which the mines had been framed to explode
when the last parcel burst; but we waited
another quarter of an hour to make sure that
it was the last, during oil which time the
growing and roaring noises deep down con-
tinucd. as if there was battle of n thousand
lions raging in the vaults and hollows under
meath. The smoke had been settled away by
the wind, and the prospect was clear We
ran below to see TO tho fire and receive five
minutes of heat into our chilled bodies, and
then returned to view the scene.
looked first over the starboard side, and
saw the great split that had happened in the
night torn in places into immense yawns and
{ fo1l Of IF ~
of its sides, but what most delighted me was
the hollow sound of washing water l lifted
my hand and listened.
"'Tis the swell of the sea flowing into the
opcningl" exclaimed.
"That means,n said Tassard, 'that this side
of the block is dslocated from the main"
eyes cried ]; land if the powder ahead
Of the bows has done its work, the heave OF
the ocean will do the rest"
We made our way on to the forecastle over
deep bel Of splintcrs of ice, lying like
wood shavngs upon tho deck; and / tool
notice as | walled that every glorious crysta
pendant that had before adorned the yards
rigging and spars had been shaken off,
had expected to see wonderful spectacle Of
havoc in the ice where the barrels of gun
powder had been poised; but saving mary
scores Of cracks where mono was before ana
vast ragged gashcs in the mouths of tho
Creviccs down which the barrels had been
lowered, the scene was much az heretofore.
The Frenchman stared, and exclaimed,
"What has the powder done? l see only a
few cracks"
''What it may have done I don't know
] answered; "but depend on il such heavy
charges of powder must have burst to some
purpose The disiocation VIII he below, and
50 much the better, for it's there the ce must
come asunder if this block is to go frce.n
lie eazed about him, and then rappng out
a string of oaths-EnSieh Italian, nnl
French, for he sworc in ali The languages hC
spoke. WHICH, he once told me, were fva-hc
declared that for his part be considered Tho
powder wasted, thnt we'd have done as wei
to fling hand grenade into o ij.surc; thot {
Thousand barrels Of powder would be but 4.
Il popgm for renlng the schoouar's bed from
the main: and in short. with several Insult
Ing looks and face black with rage and dis
appointment, gave iuc very plainly 20 know
that | had not only played the fool myself
but had made fool OF him, and TINT be wa
heartily sorrJ be had ever given himself an
trouble to C1ntrive INC cursed mnc- o. to rs
s't me il ridiculous project Tint miGi
have resulted in blowing the schooner t.
pieces and ourselves with it.
glanced ct him wi,h Z. Snecr, but tool: n
further notice Of his inaocncc. Ii was 10
only that he was SO contemplate in all re
spcotS-a liar, rogue, a t'icf, Il poltrorn
hOary in twenty walks of vice there va
something 50 u"clrtl.y &bout creature tha
had been as good Is dead for eight and fort,
years tt1t it was impossible anything h
could say could affect me as the r2ncorou
tongue Of auo,.cr man woulL l feared an,
hated him, because | know that in intent h
was already M assassin; but the mere in
solcnco OF 50 incredible Il creature could no
but find Ing ill ,r.l. Alble
"Thc.e Is nothing to be sccn Ivy staring,
he exclaimed presently, speaking very sul
lenly. Il an hungry and free E, and sha
go bcipw.0 And with tina. lie turned Lis bac
and made of, growing in his threat as
went.
got upon the ice and stepped very care
fully to the Starboard side and looked dow
the vast split there. Tho sea in consequence
Of the slope did not come So far, but l coul
hear the wash Of tAo water very plain.
was certain that the valley in which we la
was wholly disconnected from the main ic
ON this SIDE. passed to the larboard quar-
ter, and hero too were cracks wide and dee
enough to satisfy me that its hold was weak
IL Was lOTMiluOl Inc bows, where the barrel
had been exploded, that the ice was thickes
and had the firmeGt grasp; but its surface wa
violently and heavily cracked by tho e1
plosons, and | thought to myself if the fl.
sures below are as numerous, then certainl
the swell Of the sea ought to fetch the whol
mass away. But was now half frozen my
self and pining for warmth. 1t was after
o'clock The wind was piping freshly, an
the great heavy clouds in swarms drov
stately across the sky.
at may blow tonight" thought l, "and
the wind hangs as it is just such sea
may do our business will be set running.
And thus musing, l entered tho ship an
went below
CHAPTER XXU