It had now been proved by many voyagers of experience that in cold countries, as well as hot, men work harder, and endure the extremity of hardship better, without strong drink than with it, and the _Dolphin's_ crew were engaged on the distinct understanding 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 imprisonment, 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 ice 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.