They were scraping along the ice violently. Frank went below and brought up a curious-looking object.
It looked like a small pontoon boat, but something after the pattern of the Dolphin.
But Stanhope recognized its nature at once.
It was a light torpedo, and could be discharged from a shaft just aft the ram in the bow of the boat.
“A torpedo!” exclaimed the great explorer. “Are you going to use it, Frank?”
“Yes.”
“But——”
“What?”
“Is there no risk? May it not do us more harm than anything else?”
“I think not,” replied the young inventor. “This is a very light one, and the charge I think is not strong enough. If it will dislodge the whale that is the best we may ask.”