opinions, and on them he
acted.

This state of things had not been brought about in a day. Months had
passed; Roswell had seen his last billet of wood put in the camboose; had
tried various experiments for producing heat by means of oil, which so far
succeeded as to enable the ordinary boiling to be done, thereby saving
wood; but, when a cold turn set in, it was quickly found that the schooner
must go, or all hands perish. When this decree went forth, every one
understood that the final preservation of the party depended on that of
the boats. For one entire day the question had been up in general council,
whether or not the two whale-boats should be burnt, with their oars and
appurtenances, before the attack was made on the schooner itself. Stimson
settled this point, as he did so many others, Roswell listening to all he
said with a constantly increasing attention.

"If we burn the boats first," said the boat-steerer, "and then have to
come to the schooner a'ter all, how are we ever to get away from this
group? Them boats wouldn't last us a week, even in our best weather; but
they may answer to take us to some Christian land, when every rib and
splinter of the Sea Lion is turned into ashes. I would begin on the upper
works of the schooner first, Captain Gar'ner, resarvin' the spars, though
they would burn the freest. Then I would saw away the top-timbers, beams,
decks, transoms, and everything down within a foot of the water; but I
wouldn't touch anything below the copper, for this here reason: unless
Captain Daggett sets to work on his craft and burns her up altogether, we
may find mater'als enough in the spring to deck over ag'in the poor thing
down there in the cove, and fit her out a'ter a fashion, and make much
better weather of it in her than in our boats. That's my opinion, sir."

It was decided that this line of conduct should be pursued. The upper
works of the schooner were all taken out of her as soon as the weather
permitted, and the wood was carried up and stored in the house. Even with
this supply, it was soon seen that great economy was to be used, and that
there might be the necessity of getting at the vessel's bottom. As for the
schooner, as the people still affectionately called the hull, or what was
left of the hull, everything had been taken out of her. The frozen oil was
carried up to the house in chunks, and used for fuel and lights. A good
deal of heat was obtained by making large wicks of canvass