The Lighthouse

most picturesque cliffs on the east coast of Scotland. Inland the country is rather flat, but elevated several hundred feet above the level of the sea, towards w

n perforated and torn up by the waves, so as to present singularly bold and picture

d her way,-slowly, as if she had no other object in view than a stroll, and sadly, as if her mind w

girl

r, with go

near to a circular chasm, with the name of which (at that time) we are not acquainted, but which was destined er

that she had scarcely raised her eyes from the ground since sitting down on a piece of flower-studded turf near the edge of the cliff, and that she certainly had not turned her head in the direction of the town. Yet she saw him,-however absurd the statement may appear, we affirm it confidently,-and knew that h

he youth whom we now introduce to the reader was a sailor, a strapping, handsome one, too; not, indeed, remarkable for height, being only a little above the average-five feet, ten inches, or thereabouts-but noted for great depth of chest, breadth of shoulder, and developm

by Brand, happened to have an old mother who was at that time in very bad health, and she had also set her heart, poor body, on the youth, and entreated

moned his men and went after him-cautiously, however, in order to take him by surp

r was seated, the youth presented himself suddenly to her, sat dow

n't," said Mi

e relative position of their noses, mouths, and chins, a position which would have been highl

why not?" said

said Minnie, turn

forgot to shave

ed the girl quickly, "I mean r

my metaphysical Uncle Ogilvy would undertake to prove to you, thus, a b

lk nonsen

g, if you will listen t

into her lover's face, for she knew at once by his expression that h

d down by that rascally press-gang, that I don't know what to do. They're sure to nab me at last, too, and the

" said

-" Ruby stopped short, and, turning his head on one side, while a

few seconds, but, wondering why he paused

what do

ovably in the position which he had assumed on first sitting down by the girl's side, although th

the tail of my eye, creeping round the rocks. They think I haven't seen th

will you

s I can before I go. Don't be afraid. They're honest

him, Ruby waited until he heard a stealthy tread behind him. Then he sprang up with the speed of thought, uttered a laugh of

r, and fell fainting into the ar

alive. Stay, one of you, and look after this girl.

easy for them to obey, for the rocks were almost perpen

e lieutenant. "Scatter yourselv

t Ruby's escape, in the event of his trying to ascend them, and two sailors stationed themselves

was a practised swimmer and diver, and knew well the risk he ran. He struck the water with tremendous force and sent up a great mass of foam, but he had entered it perpe

hich Ruby knew that he could climb, and thus reach the top unperceived, but, after gaining the summit, there still lay before him the difficulty of eluding those who watched there. He felt, however, that nothing could be gained b

ell fast asleep! It was just at the spot where this man lay that Ruby reached the summit. The ascent was very difficult. At each step the hunted youth had to reach his hand as high above his head as possible, and grasp the edge of a rock or a mass of turf with great care bef

the edge of the cliff. In doing so he nearly scalped poor Dalls, whose hair was the "turf" which he had seized, and who, uttering a hideous yell, leaped upon Ruby and tried to overthrow him. But Dalls h

, and reached the spot just as Ruby leaped over his prostrate foe and fled towards Arbroath. They followed with a cheer, which warned the two men in ambush

nt, who gallantly undertook to see her safe into the town, in order to prevent any risk of her being insulted by his men. On hearing the shout of those w

and sprang nimbly up the almost perpendicular wall of earth on his right. This act disconcerted the men, who had prepared to receive his charge and seize him, but Ruby jumped down on the shoulders of the one ne

brought to a sudden pause when the appropriate breaks are applied, so wa

cried eagerly, and has

ll cat

vehemently, Ruby coul

, Minnie, and they can't hurt me-except in the way of cutting short our

and gently smoothed down her golden hair. Just as the foremost pursuer came within fifteen yards or so of them, he said, "Farewell, my lassie, I leave you in good hands"; and then, waving h