THE THIRD SUMMER 687 



the shock came they of course started to run as fast as their 

 legs would carry them, but they did not get away quickly 

 enough to reach the deep snow. The pieces of ice rained un- 

 mercifully down upon their backs. After a great deal of trouble 

 we laid and fired two other large gunpowder mines, besides some 

 smaller ones, but without much effect. We then began to bore 

 holes for two gun-cotton mines, which were to be fired simul- 

 taneously. But when we had got down two and a half drill- 

 lengths the screw broke, and before we could proceed new 

 grooves had to be filed on the other drill before we could use 

 it again. At 12 o'clock at night we knocked off work, after 

 having been at it unceasingly since the morning. 



Next day at 6 o'clock the boring was continued. But the ice 

 was so hard and difficult to work at that, although four men 

 were handling the drill, we had to erect a small crane with tackle 

 to hoist the drill out every time it got clogged up. The ice was 

 so thick that it took four drill-lengths (about 20 feet) to make a 

 hole through it. One of the gun-cotton mines was now lowered 

 into the hole, while the other was put beneath the edge of an 

 old channel by means of a long pole. Both mines were fired 

 simultaneously, but only one exploded. We connected the 

 wires, and then the other went off too. But the result was far 

 from answering our expectations. Although the large mines 

 were carried down to a depth of 20 yards where the ice was 

 thin, the resistance was too great for us. 



The blasting was now discontinued till June 2d, when during 

 the night the ice opened up along the old lane close to the vessel. 

 First we fired a gun-cotton mine right abaft. It took effect, and 

 split the ice close to the stern. Next we drilled a hole about 16 

 feet deep right abreast of the ship, and loaded it with 10 prismer, 

 or 330 grammes, of gun-cotton (equivalent to about 30 pounds of 

 ordinary gunpowder) ; but as I thought it would be too risky to 

 explode a mine of this strength so near the vessel, we first fired a 

 small gunpowder mine of ii pounds, to see what effect it would 

 have. The result was insignificant, so the large mine was fired. 

 It made things lively indeed ! The ship received such a shock 

 that one of the paintings and a rifle fell down on the floor in the 



