"There is no doubt," replied Altamont, "of its utility; but how would you contrive to make it?"
"With one of the lanterns out of the Porpoise."
"All right; but how will you feed your lamp? With seal oil?"
"No, seal oil would not give nearly sufficient light. It would scarcely be visible through the fog."
"Are you going to try to make gas out of our coal then?"
"No, not that either, for gas would not be strong enough; and, worse still, it would waste our combustibles."
"Well," replied Altamont; "I'm at a loss to see how you-"
"Oh, I'm prepared for everything after the mercury bullet, and the ice lens, and Fort Providence. I believe Mr. Clawbonny can do anything," exclaimed Johnson.
"Come, Clawbonny, tell us what your light is to be, then," said Altamont.
"That's soon told," replied Clawbonny. "I mean to have an electric light."