"One dynamite cartridge would do it!" laughed Malipieri, as he looked
at the huge stone.

"Thank you, sir," answered Masin, taking the suggestion seriously. "I
have been in the galleys seven years, and that is enough for a
lifetime. We must try and split it with wedges."

"There is no other way."

They had all the tools necessary for the old-fashioned operation;
three drilling irons, of different sizes, and a small sledge-hammer,
and they went to work without delay. Malipieri held the iron
horizontally against the stone with both hands, turning it a little
after Masin had struck it with the sledge. It was very exhausting
after a time, as the whole weight of the tool was at first carried by
Malipieri's uplifted hands. Moreover, if he forgot to grasp it very
firmly, the vibration of the blow made the palms of his hands sting
till they were numb. At regular intervals the men changed places,
Masin held the drill and Malipieri took the hammer. Every now and then
they raked out the dust from the deepening hole with a little round
scoop made for the purpose and riveted to the end of a light iron rod
a yard long.

Hour after hour they toiled thus together, far down under the palace,
in the damp, close air, that was cold and yet stifling to breathe. The
hole was now over two feet deep.

Suddenly, as Masin delivered a heavy blow, the drill ran in an inch
instead of recoiling in Malipieri's tight hold.