calculated that if the plan succeeded they ought to be able to build a
boat of the required size in six months at the outside. The preparation of
the planking had been the most arduous portion of the plan they had first
laid out, and this would be done away with altogether; and as the nails
would doubtless draw out of the planks, and they would obtain plenty of
bolts and fastenings from the fragments of the wreck, the building of
their boat was now comparatively simple, and Stephen even fancied that
they might complete it in four months. No word was spoken as to the gold,
but Stephen felt that a difficulty might finally arise out of it. He
himself considered it as a lawful prize for the Chilian government; but
the Peruvians were two to one against him, and although they might have no
desire to return it to the Spaniards, who were detested by the great
majority of Peruvians, they might set up a claim to it on their own
account. However, he dismissed the idea from his mind as one that must be
left to be determined by circumstances.

For a month they laboured assiduously. The planks were successfully taken
up, and then, after much consideration, preparations were made for blowing
up the vessel. The powder barrels were brought up, fuses were made, each
six feet long, passing from barrel to barrel, and the chain of barrels was
laid from the stern to the point where the deck was level with the water.
This plan was adopted in order that the whole fabric should be shaken and
broken up, while, had the whole force of the explosion taken place at one
point, it would have entirely destroyed the timber there, while perhaps
leaving a considerable portion still standing above the water.

The success of the explosion was complete, and in the morning there was no
sign of the ship above water, while the bay was covered with floating
wreckage. It took some time to collect this and bring it to shore, and
then to tow it to the spot they had decided upon as being best suited for
the launch. It was near the point of the bay, and the beach here sloped
more steeply than elsewhere.

Their first work was to erect a platform sloping still more steeply, and
covered with pieces of timber too short for other work. The craft would
thus be built at an angle which would ensure her sliding down into the
water, and during the progress of building she could be retained in her
place by ropes fastened to a tree behind, and by blocks of wood under her
stern-