se, and the sight of the
barrels of lime-juice, lime-drops, packets of mustard, grains of
sorrel and _cochlearia_, all antiscorbutic, confirmed the opinion
on the destination of the brig for the ice regions; their influence
is so necessary in Polar navigation. Shandon had doubtless received
particular instructions about this part of the cargo, which, along
with the medicine-chest, he attended to particularly.

Although arms were not numerous on board, the powder-magazine
overflowed. The one cannon could not pretend to use the contents.
That gave people more to think about. There were also gigantic saws
and powerful instruments, such as levers, leaden maces, handsaws,
enormous axes, etc., without counting a considerable quantity of
blasting cylinders, enough to blow up the Liverpool Customs--all that
was strange, not to say fearful, without mentioning rockets, signals,
powder-chests, and beacons of a thousand different sorts. The
numerous spectators on the wharfs of Prince's Docks admired likewise
a long mahogany whaler, a tin _pirogue_ covered with gutta-percha,
and a certain quantity of halkett-boats, a sort of indiarubber cloaks
that can be transformed into canoes by blowing in their lining.
Expectation was on the _qui vive_, for the _Forward_ was going out
with the tide.

CHAPTER II

AN UNEXPECTED LETTER

The letter received by Richard Shandon, eight months before, ran as
follows:--

"ABERDEEN,

"August 2nd, 1859.

"To Mr. Richard Shandon,

"Liverpool.

"SIR,--I beg to advise you that the sum of sixteen thousand pounds
sterling has been placed in the hands of Messrs. Marcuart and Co.,
bankers, of Liverpool. I join herewith a series of cheques, signed
by me, which will allow you to draw upon the said Messrs. Marcuart
for the above-mentioned sum. You do not know me, but that is of no
consequence. I know you: that is sufficient. I offer you the place
of second on board the brig _Forward_ for a voyage that may be long
and perilous. If you agree to my conditions you will receive a salary
of 500 pounds, and all through the voyage it will be augmented
one-tenth at the end of each year. The _Forward_ is not yet in
existence. You must have it built so as to be ready for sea at the
beginning of April, 1860, at the latest. Herewith is a detailed plan
and estimate. You will take care that it is scrupulously followed.
The ship is to be built by Messrs.