CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
THE BELL ROCK AGAIN--A DREARY NIGHT IN A STRANGE HABITATION.
During that winter Ruby Brand wrought diligently in the workyard at thelighthouse materials, and, by living economically, began to save a smallsum of money, which he laid carefully by with a view to his marriagewith Minnie Gray.
Being an impulsive man, Ruby would have married Minnie, then and there,without looking too earnestly to the future. But his mother had advisedhim to wait till he should have laid by a little for a "rainy day." Thecaptain had recommended patience, tobacco, and philosophy, and hadenforced his recommendations with sundry apt quotations from dead andliving novelists, dramatists, and poets. Minnie herself, poor girl,felt that she ought not to run counter to the wishes of her best anddearest friends, so she too advised delay for a "little time"; and Rubywas fain to content himself with bewailing his hard lot internally, andknocking Jamie Dove's bellows, anvils, and sledge-hammers about in a waythat induced that son of Vulcan to believe his assistant had gone mad!
As for big Swankie, he hid his ill-gotten gains under the floor of histumble-down cottage, and went about his evil courses as usual in companywith his comrade Davy Spink, who continued to fight and make it up withhim as of yore.
It must not be supposed that Ruby forgot the conversation he hadoverheard in the Gaylet Cove. He and Minnie and his uncle had frequentdiscussions in regard to it, but to little purpose; for although Swankieand Spink had discovered old Mr Brand's body on the Bell Rock, it didnot follow that any jewels or money they had found there werenecessarily his. Still Ruby could not divest his mind of the feelingthat there was some connexion between the two, and he was convinced,from what had fallen from Davy Spink about "silver teapots and things",that Swankie was the man of whose bad deeds he himself had beensuspected.
As there seemed no possibility of bringing the matter home to him,however, he resolved to dismiss the whole affair from his mind in themeantime.
Things were very much in this state when, in the spring, the operationsat the Bell Rock were resumed.
Jamie Dove, Ruby, Robert Selkirk, and several of the principal workmen,accompanied the engineers on their first visit to the rock, and theysailed towards the scene of their former labours with deep and peculiarinterest, such as one might feel on renewing acquaintance with an oldfriend who had passed through many hard and trying struggles since thelast time of meeting.
The storms of winter had raged round the Bell Rock as usual--as they haddone, in fact, since the world began; but that winter the handiwork ofman had also been exposed to the fury of the elements there. It wasknown that the beacon had survived the storms, for it could be seen bytelescope from the shore in clear weather--like a little speck on theseaward horizon. Now they were about to revisit the old haunt, and havea close inspection of the damage that it was supposed must certainlyhave been done.
To the credit of the able engineer who planned and carried out the wholeworks, the beacon was found to have resisted winds and wavessuccessfully.
It was on a bitterly cold morning about the end of March that the firstvisit of the season was paid to the Bell Rock. Mr Stevenson and hisparty of engineers and artificers sailed in the lighthouse yacht; and,on coming within a proper distance of the rock, two boats were loweredand pushed off. The sea ran with such force upon the rock that itseemed doubtful whether a landing could be effected. About half-pasteight, when the rock was fairly above water, several attempts were madeto land, but the breach of the sea was still so great that they weredriven back.
On the eastern side the sea separated into two distinct waves, whichcame with a sweep round the western side, where they met, and rose in aburst of spray to a considerable height. Watching, however, for whatthe sailors termed a _smooth_, and catching a favourable opportunity,they rowed between the two seas dexterously, and made a successfullanding at the western creek.
The sturdy beacon was then closely examined. It had been painted whiteat the end of the previous season, but the lower parts of the posts werefound to have become green--the sea having clothed them with a softgarment of weed. The sea-birds had evidently imagined that it was putup expressly for their benefit; for a number of cormorants and largeherring-gulls had taken up their quarters on it--finding it, no doubt,conveniently near to their fishing-grounds.
A critical inspection of all its parts showed that everything about itwas in a most satisfactory state. There was not the slightestindication of working or shifting in the great iron stanchions withwhich the beams were fixed, nor of any of the joints or places ofconnexion; and, excepting some of the bracing-chains which had beenloosened, everything wars found in the same entire state in which it hadbeen left the previous season.
Only those who know what that beacon had been subjected to can form acorrect estimate of the importance of this discovery, and the amount ofsatisfaction it afforded to those most interested in the works at theBell Rock. To say that the party congratulated themselves would be farshort of the reality. They hailed the event with cheers, and theirlooks seemed to indicate that some piece of immense and unexpected goodfortune had befallen each individual.
From that moment Mr Stevenson saw the practicability and propriety offitting up the beacon, not only as a place of refuge in case ofaccidents to the boats in landing, but as a residence for the men duringthe working months.
From that moment, too, poor Jamie Dove began to see the dawn of happierdays; for when the beacon should be fitted up as a residence he wouldbid farewell to the hated floating light, and take up his abode, as heexpressed it, "on land."
"On land!" It is probable that this Jamie Dove was the first man, sincethe world began, who had entertained the till then absurdly preposterousnotion that the fatal Bell Rock was "land," or that it could be made aplace of even temporary residence.
A hundred years ago men would have laughed at the bare idea. Fiftyyears ago that idea was realised; for more than half a century thatsunken reef has been, and still is, the safe and comfortable home ofman!
Forgive, reader, our tendency to anticipate. Let us proceed with ourinspection.
Having ascertained that the foundations of the beacon were all right,the engineers next ascended to the upper parts, where they found thecross-beams and their fixtures in an equally satisfactory condition.
On the top a strong chest had been fixed the preceding season, in whichhad been placed a quantity of sea-biscuits and several bottles of water,in case of accident to the boats, or in the event of shipwreck occurringon the rock. The biscuit, having been carefully placed in tincanisters, was found in good condition, but several of the water-bottleshad burst, in consequence, it was supposed, of frost during the winter.Twelve of the bottles, however, remained entire, so that the Bell Rockmay be said to have been transformed, even at that date, from a point ofdestruction into a place of comparative safety.
While the party were thus employed, the landing-master reminded themthat the sea was running high, and that it would be necessary to set offwhile the rock afforded anything like shelter to the boats, which bythat time had been made fast to the beacon and rode with much agitation,each requiring two men with boat-hooks to keep them from striking eachother, or ranging up against the beacon. But under these circumstancesthe greatest confidence was felt by everyone, from the security affordedby that temporary erection; for, supposing that the wind had suddenlyincreased to a gale, and that it had been found inadvisable to go intothe boats; or supposing they had drifted or sprung a leak from strikingupon the rocks, in any of these possible, and not at all improbable,cases, they had now something to lay hold of, and, though occupying thedreary habitation of the gull and the cormorant, affording only breadand water, yet _life_ would be preserved, and, under the circumstances,they would have been supported by the hope of being ultimately relieved.
Soon after this the works at the Bell Rock were resumed, with, ifpossible, greater vigour than before, and ere long the "house" was fixedto the top of the beacon, and t
he engineer and his men took up theirabode there.
Think of this, reader. Six great wooden beams were fastened to a rock,over which the waves roared twice every day, and on the top of these apleasant little marine residence was nailed, as one might nail a dovecoton the top of a pole!
This residence was ultimately fitted up in such a way as to become acomparatively comfortable and commodious abode. It contained fourstoreys. The first was the mortar-gallery, where the mortar for thelighthouse was mixed as required; it also supported the forge. Thesecond was the cook-room. The third the apartment of the engineer andhis assistants; and the fourth was the artificers' barrack-room. Thishouse was of course built of wood, but it was firmly put together, forit had to pass through many a terrific ordeal.
In order to give some idea of the interior, we shall describe the cabinof Mr Stevenson. It measured four feet three inches in breadth on thefloor, and though, from the oblique direction of the beams of thebeacon, it widened towards the top, yet it did not admit of the fullextension of the occupant's arms when he stood on the floor. Its lengthwas little more than sufficient to admit of a cot-bed being suspendedduring the night. This cot was arranged so as to be triced up to theroof during the day, thus leaving free room for occasional visitors, andfor comparatively free motion. A folding table was attached with hingesimmediately under the small window of the apartment. The remainder ofthe space was fitted up with books, barometer, thermometer, portmanteau,and two or three camp-stools.
The walls were covered with green cloth, formed into panels with redtape, a substance which, by the way, might have had an _accidental_connexion with the Bell Rock Lighthouse, but which could not, by anypossibility, have influenced it as a _principle_, otherwise thatbuilding would probably never have been built, or, if built, wouldcertainly not have stood until the present day! The bed was festoonedwith yellow cotton stuff, and the diet being plain, the paraphernalia ofthe table was proportionally simple.
It would have been interesting to know the individual books required andused by the celebrated engineer in his singular abode, but his recordleaves no detailed account of these. It does, however, contain asentence in regard to one volume which we deem it just to his characterto quote. He writes thus:--
"If, in speculating upon the abstract wants of man in such a state ofexclusion, one were reduced to a single book, the Sacred Volume, whetherconsidered for the striking diversity of its story, the morality of itsdoctrine, or the important truths of its gospel, would have proved byfar the greatest treasure."
It may be easily imagined that in a place where the accommodation of theprincipal engineer was so limited, that of the men was not extensive.Accordingly, we find that the barrack-room contained beds for twenty-onemen.
But the completion of the beacon house, as we have described it, was notaccomplished in one season. At first it was only used as a smith'sworkshop, and then as a temporary residence in fine weather.
One of the first men who remained all night upon it was our friendBremner. He became so tired of the floating light that he earnestlysolicited, and obtained, permission to remain on the beacon.
At the time it was only in a partially sheltered state. The joiners hadjust completed the covering of the roof with a quantity of tarpaulin,which the seamen had laid over with successive coats of hot tar, and thesides of the erection had been painted with three coats of white lead.Between the timber framing of the habitable part, the interstices werestuffed with moss, but the green baize cloth with which it wasafterwards lined had not been put on when Bremner took possession.
It was a splendid summer evening when the bold man made his request, andobtained permission to remain. None of the others would join him. Whenthe boats pushed off and left him the solitary occupant of the rock, hefelt a sensation of uneasiness, but, having formed his resolution, hestuck by it, and bade his comrades good night cheerfully.
"Good night, and good_bye_," cried Forsyth, as he took his seat at theoar.
"Farewell, dear," cried O'Connor, wiping his eyes with a _very_ raggedpocket handkerchief.
"You won't forget me?" retorted Bremner.
"Never," replied Dumsby, with fervour.
"Av the beacon should be carried away, darlin'," cried O'Connor, "howldtight to the provision-chest, p'raps ye'll be washed ashore."
"I'll drink your health in water, Paddy," replied Bremner.
"Faix, I hope it won't be salt wather," retorted Ned.
They continued to shout good wishes, warnings, and advice to theircomrade until out of hearing, and then waved adieu to him until he waslost to view.
We have said that Bremner was alone, yet he was not entirely so; he hada comrade with him, in the shape of his little black dog, to whichreference has already been made. This creature was of that very thinand tight-skinned description of dog, that trembles at all times as ifafflicted with chronic cold, summer and winter. Its thin tail wasalways between its extremely thin legs, as though it lived in aperpetual condition of wrong-doing, and were in constant dread ofdeserved punishment. Yet no dog ever belied its looks more than didthis one, for it was a good dog, and a warm-hearted dog, and never did awicked thing, and never was punished, so that its excessive humility andapparent fear and trembling were quite unaccountable. Like all dogs ofits class it was passionately affectionate, and intensely grateful forthe smallest favour. In fact, it seemed to be rather thankful thanotherwise for a kick when it chanced to receive one, and a pat on thehead, or a kind word made it all but jump out of its black skin for veryjoy.
Bremner called it "Pup." It had no other name, and didn't seem to wishfor one. On the present occasion it was evidently much perplexed, andvery unhappy, for it looked at the boat, and then wistfully into itsmaster's face, as if to say, "This is awful; have you resolved that weshall perish together?"
"Now, Pup," said Bremner, when the boat disappeared in the shades ofevening, "you and I are left alone on the Bell Rock!"
There was a touch of sad uncertainty in the wag of the tail with whichPup received this remark.
"But cheer up, Pup," cried Bremner with a sudden burst of animation thatinduced the creature to wriggle and dance on its hind legs for at leasta minute, "you and I shall have a jolly night together on the beacon; socome along."
Like many a night that begins well, that particular night ended ill.Even while the man spoke, a swell began to rise, and, as the tide had bythat time risen a few feet, an occasional billow swept over the rocksand almost washed the feet of Bremner as he made his way over theledges. In five minutes the sea was rolling all round the foot of thebeacon, and Bremner and his friend were safely ensconced on themortar-gallery.
There was no storm that night, nevertheless there was one of those heavyground swells that are of common occurrence in the German Ocean.
It is supposed that this swell is caused by distant westerly gales inthe Atlantic, which force an undue quantity of water into the North Sea,and thus produce the apparent paradox of great rolling breakers in calmweather.
On this night there was no wind at all, but there was a higher swellthan usual, so that each great billow passed over the rock with a roarthat was rendered more than usually terrible, in consequence of theutter absence of all other sounds.
At first Bremner watched the rising tide, and as he sat up there in thedark he felt himself dreadfully forsaken and desolate, and began tocomment on things in general to his dog, by way of inducing a moresociable and cheery state of mind.
"Pup, this is a lugubrious state o' things. Wot d'ye think o't?"
Pup did not say, but he expressed such violent joy at being noticed,that he nearly fell off the platform of the mortar-gallery in one of hisextravagant gyrations.
"That won't do, Pup," said Bremner, shaking his head at the creature,whose countenance expressed deep contrition. "Don't go on like that,else you'll fall into the sea and be drownded, and then I shall be leftalone. What a dark night it is, to be sure! I doubt if it was wise ofme to stop here. Sup
pose the beacon were to be washed away?"
Bremner paused, and Pup wagged his tail interrogatively, as though tosay, "What then?"
"Ah! it's of no use supposin'," continued the man slowly. "The beaconhas stood it out all winter, and it ain't likely it's goin' to be washedaway to-night. But suppose I was to be took bad?"
Again the dog seemed to demand, "What then?"
"Well, that's not very likely either, for I never was took bad in mylife since I took the measles, and that's more than twenty years ago.Come, Pup, don't let us look at the black side o' things, let us try tobe cheerful, my dog. Hallo!"
The exclamation was caused by the appearance of a green billow, which inthe uncertain light seemed to advance in a threatening attitude towardsthe beacon as if to overwhelm it, but it fell at some distance, and onlyrolled in a churning sea of milky foam among the posts, and sprang upand licked the beams, as a serpent might do before swallowing them.
"Come, it was the light deceived me. If I go for to start at every wavelike that I'll have a poor night of it, for the tide has a long way torise yet. Let's go and have a bit supper, lad."
Bremner rose from the anvil, on which he had seated himself, and went upthe ladder into the cook-house above. Here all was pitch dark, owing tothe place being enclosed all round, which the mortar-gallery was not,but a light was soon struck, a lamp trimmed, and the fire in the stovekindled.
Bremner now busied himself in silently preparing a cup of tea, which,with a quantity of sea-biscuit, a little cold salt pork, and a hunk ofstale bread, constituted his supper. Pup watched his every movementwith an expression of earnest solicitude, combined with goodwill, in hissharp intelligent eyes.
When supper was ready Pup had his share, then, feeling that the dutiesof the day were now satisfactorily accomplished, he coiled himself up athis master's feet, and went to sleep. His master rolled himself up in arug, and lying down before the fire, also tried to sleep, but withoutsuccess for a long time.
As he lay there counting the number of seconds of awful silence thatelapsed between the fall of each successive billow, and listening to thecrash and the roar as wave after wave rushed underneath him, and causedhis habitation to tremble, he could not avoid feeling alarmed in somedegree. Do what he would, the thought of the wrecks that had takenplace there, the shrieks that must have often rung above these rocks,and the dead and mangled bodies that must have lain among them, _would_obtrude upon him and banish sleep from his eyes.
At last he became somewhat accustomed to the rush of waters and thetremulous motion of the beacon. His frame, too, exhausted by a day ofhard toil, refused to support itself, and he sank into slumber. But itwas not unbroken. A falling cinder from the sinking fire would awakenhim with a start; a larger wave than usual would cause him to spring upand look round in alarm; or a shrieking sea-bird, as it swooped past,would induce a dream, in which the cries of drowning men arose, causinghim to awake with a cry that set Pup barking furiously.
Frequently during that night, after some such dream, Bremner would getup and descend to the mortar-gallery to see that all was right there.He found the waves always hissing below, but the starry sky was calm andpeaceful above, so he returned to his couch comforted a little, and fellagain into a troubled sleep, to be again awakened by frightful dreams ofdreadful sights, and scenes of death and danger on the sea.
Thus the hours wore slowly away. As the tide fell the noise of wavesretired a little from the beacon, and the wearied man and dog sankgradually at last into deep, untroubled slumber.
So deep was it, that they did not hear the increasing noise of the gullsas they wheeled round the beacon after having breakfasted near it; sodeep, that they did not feel the sun as it streamed through an openingin the woodwork and glared on their respective faces; so deep, that theywere ignorant of the arrival of the boats with the workmen, and weredead to the shouts of their companions, until one of them, Jamie Dove,put his head up the hatchway and uttered one of his loudest roars, closeto their ears.
Then indeed Bremner rose up and looked bewildered, and Pup, starting up,barked as furiously as if its own little black body had miraculouslybecome the concentrated essence of all the other noisy dogs in the wideworld rolled into one!