the men had built a small fire for the comfort of its light ; the temperature had fallen in the dark to a milder degree , and , settled on temeraire 's forearm , laurence was conscious himself of a great weight lifted from his shoulders : if politics should deny them the chance to be of use in any material way in the war , there was at least work here to be done which he could not disdain , and the hope of building something rather than tearing away , to no purpose .