Part 16 (2/2)

”Yes, yes, uncle,” she said, getting up and looking round, ”it is time that we should go now; we have a long way to go, you know. Where is the boat?”

”The boat, my precious, is at the bottom of the sea.”

As he said this, he pointed to the mast, half of which was seen rising out of the pool where the boat had gone down.

”But you don't need to mind,” continued the captain, ”for they're goin'

to send us in one o' their own boats aboord the floatin' lights.h.i.+p, where we'll get a change o' clothes an' somethin' to eat.”

As he spoke, one of the sailors came forward and announced that the boat was ready, so the captain and the major a.s.sisted Minnie into the boat, which soon pushed off with part of the workmen from the rock. It was to be sent back for the remainder of the crew, by which time the tide would render it necessary that all should leave.

Ruby purposely kept away from the group while they were embarking, and after they were gone proceeded to resume work.

”You took a smart dive that time, lad,” observed Joe Dumsby as they went along.

”Not more than anyone would do for a girl,” said Ruby.

”An' such a purty wan, too,” said O'Connor. ”Ah! av she's not Irish, she should ha' bin.”

”Ye're a lucky chap to hae sic a chance,” observed John Watt.

”Make up to her, lad,” said Forsyth; ”I think she couldn't refuse ye after doin' her such service.”

”Time enough to chaff after work is over,” cried Ruby with a laugh, as he turned up his sleeves, and, seizing the hammer, began, as his friend Dove said, ”to work himself dry.”

In a few minutes, work was resumed, and for another hour all continued busy as bees, cutting and pounding at the flinty surface of the Bell Rock.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A SLEEPLESS BUT A PLEASANT NIGHT.

The evening which followed the day that has just been described was bright, calm, and beautiful, with the starry host unclouded and distinctly visible to the profoundest depths of s.p.a.ce.

As it was intended to send the _Smeaton_ to Arbroath next morning for a cargo of stones from the building-yard, the wrecked party were prevailed on to remain all night on board the _Pharos_, instead of going ash.o.r.e in one of the s.h.i.+p's boats, which could not well be spared at the time.

This arrangement, we need hardly say, gave inexpressible pleasure to Ruby, and was not altogether distasteful to Minnie, although she felt anxious about Mrs Brand, who would naturally be much alarmed at the prolonged absence of herself and the captain. However, ”there was no help for it”; and it was wonderful the resignation which she displayed in the circ.u.mstances.

It was not Ruby's duty to watch on deck that night, yet, strange to say, Ruby kept watch the whole night long!

There was no occasion whatever for Minnie to go on deck after it was dark, yet, strange to say, Minnie kept coming on deck at intervals _nearly_ the whole night long! Sometimes to ”look at the stars”, sometimes to ”get a mouthful of fresh air”, frequently to find out what ”that strange noise could be that had alarmed her”, and at last-- especially towards the early hours of morning--for no reason whatever, except that ”she could not sleep below.”

It was very natural that when Minnie paced the quarterdeck between the stern and the mainmast, and Ruby paced the forepart of the deck between the bows and the mainmast, the two should occasionally meet at the mainmast. It was also very natural that when they did meet, the girl who had been rescued should stop and address a few words of grat.i.tude to the man who had saved her. But it was by no means natural--nay, it was altogether unnatural and unaccountable, that, when it became dark, the said man and the said girl should get into a close and confidential conversation, which lasted for hours, to the amus.e.m.e.nt of Captain Ogilvy and the major, who quite understood it, and to the amazement of many of the s.h.i.+p's crew, who couldn't understand it at all.

At last Minnie bade Ruby a final good night and went below, and Ruby, who could not persuade himself that it was final, continued to walk the deck until his eyes began to shut and open involuntarily like those of a sick owl. Then he also went below, and, before he fell quite asleep (according to his own impression), was awakened by the bell that called the men to land on the rock and commence work.

It was not only Ruby who found it difficult to rouse himself that morning. The landing-bell was rung at four o'clock, as the tide suited at that early hour, but the men were so fatigued that they would gladly have slept some hours longer. This, however, the nature of the service would not admit of. The building of the Bell Rock Lighthouse was a peculiar service. It may be said to have resembled duty in the trenches in military warfare. At times the work was light enough, but for the most part it was severe and irregular, as the men had to work in all kinds of weather, as long as possible, in the face of unusual difficulties and dangers, and were liable to be called out at all unseasonable hours. But they knew and expected this, and faced the work like men.

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