My idea is to light it about midnight, so that the explosion will take place about three or four o'clock in the morning." "Well planned!" said Phil Evans.
The colleagues, as we see, had arrived at such a stage as to look with the greatest nonchalance on the awful destruction in which they were about to perish.

Their hatred against Robur and his people had so increased that they would sacrifice their own lives to destroy the "Albatross" and all she bore.

The act was that of madmen, it was horrible; but at such a pitch had they arrived after five weeks of anger that could not vent itself, of rage that could not be gratified.
"And Frycollin ?" asked Phil Evans, "have we the right to dispose of his life ?" "We shall sacrifice ours as well!" said Uncle Prudent.

But it is doubtful if Frycollin would have thought the reason sufficient.
Immediately Uncle Prudent set to work, while Evans kept watch in the neighborhood of the cabin.

The crew were all at work forward.