The Lighthouse

teenth century, two fishermen of Forfarshire wended their

rt and well-favoured. Both were square-built, powerful f

repose. The sea was like a sheet of undulating glass. A breeze had been expected, but, in defiance of expectation, it had not come, so the boatmen were obliged to use their oars. They

ing the first hour did the ill-favoured man venture a remark. Referring to the ab

ped from the fishermen's lips. We take the liberty of modifying it a little, believing

from the short comrade, who stated his belief that "t

relapsed i

skimmed was grey, and the foam at the cutwater leaden-coloured. By degrees they rowed, as it were, into a brighter region.

f any kind, was the terror of mariners who were making for the firths of Forth and Tay. The "something" that was expected to be found there may be guessed at, when we say that one of the fiercest storms that ever swept our easter

avy?" enquired the ill-favour

nk, ceasing to row, and looking over hi

more correctly, Jock Swankie. "Od! I believe ye're right," he added, shading his heavy red brows with his heavier and redder hand, "that is the rock, but a man w

at in the direction of a thin line of snow-white foam that lay appar

the noise of the oars; as the boat advanced, the swells from the southeast could be seen towering upwards as they neared the foaming spot, gradually changing their broad-backed form, and coming on in majestic walls of green water, which fell with indescribable grandeur into the seethi

, baiting their hand-lines, began to fish. At first they were unsuccessful, but before half an hour had elapsed, the cod began to nibble, and Big Swa

said Swankie, coi

able man; "we better fish a while langer-bring the cleek, Swan

ermination was in consequence of the line breaking and the fish esca

ne," said the disappointed ma

' too, so up anchor, lad. The rock's loo

s the rock, the ragged edges of which were now visible a

let, but in a succession of serrated ledges of various heights, between and amongst which the sea flows until the tide has fallen pretty low. At full ebb the rock appears like a dark islet, covered with seaweed, and studded

and often of extreme danger, as the swell of the sea, even in calm weather, bursts over these ledges wit

ut from the boat itself, it would have appeared that the reckless men were sailing into the jaws of certain death, for the breakers burst around them so confusedly in all directions that their instant destruction seemed inevitable. But Davy Spink, looking over

ll, lad,"

the boat was as if embedded in snow, then it sank once more into the lead among the floating tangle, and the men pulled with might and main in order to escape the next wave. They were just in time. It burst over the same rocks with great

d landed and secured the

man, but at the Bell Rock they wait a much briefer period than elsewhere. Between low water and the time when it would be impossible to quit the

k falling flat on his back. Neither paid attention to his comrade's misfortunes in this way. Each scrambled about actively, searching with care among the crevices o

returned to their b

e met-the former with a grappling iron on his shoulder,

heavy metal this mornin', only a bit of a

on the rock this gale," said Davy, as he and his friend threw

ly. At last, however, Big Swankie came to a gully or inlet where a large mass of the débris of a wreck was piled up in indescribable confusion, in the midst of which

ld watch and several gold rings and brooches, in some of which were beautiful stones. Swankie was no judge of jewellery, but he could not avoid the conviction that these things must needs be valuable. He laid the case down on the rock beside him, and eagerly searched the other pockets. In one he found a large clasp-knife

e? Hey! watches and rings-come

, somewhat sternly, "yo

ed, an' I dinna see what for

effec'-the case o' kickshaw

," sugges

o be sae graspin'. For the matter o' that ye may hae it all to yersel'

rch of the body, and in a moment or two drew

ewarded, they say. This is mine, and I

is comrade emptied the contents into his lar

he what-d'ye-ca'-ums, a

re," observed Spink, look

he put the gold into his pocket. "I think I've seed it myse

, that'll fa' heavy on the auld woman. But, come, it'll no' d

the vest pocket of the dead man. It contained writing, and had been so securely wrapped up, that it was only a little damped. Davy Spink, w

an-an-'" ("'fast,' maybe," suggested Spink). "Ay, so 'tis. I canna

the paper for a few minutes, with a lo

what is't?"

being unable to read it. He refolded the paper, and thrust it into hi

and the siller," said

, I win the box;-heeds it is, so the kickshaws is mine. Weel, I'm content," he added,

nd the fishermen, having collected as much as time would

oor, a ship's marking-iron, a soldier's bayonet, a cannon ball, a shoebuckle, and a small anchor, besides part of the cordage of th

e corp ashore," sa

k what was in the pock

rejoined the oth

up to the rocks. They both re-landed in silence, and, lifting the dead body of

ar out into deep water. A breeze which had sprung up from the east, tended to raise the sea a little, but when they finally got away from the dangerous reef, the breez