The Lighthouse
Page 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A SLEEPLESS BUT A PLEASANT NIGHT.
The evening which followed the day that has just been described wasbright, calm, and beautiful, with the starry host unclouded anddistinctly visible to the profoundest depths of space.
As it was intended to send the _Smeaton_ to Arbroath next morning for acargo of stones from the building-yard, the wrecked party were prevailedon to remain all night on board the _Pharos_, instead of going ashore inone of the ship's boats, which could not well be spared at the time.
This arrangement, we need hardly say, gave inexpressible pleasure toRuby, and was not altogether distasteful to Minnie, although she feltanxious about Mrs Brand, who would naturally be much alarmed at theprolonged absence of herself and the captain. However, "there was nohelp for it"; and it was wonderful the resignation which she displayedin the circumstances.
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 wasdark, 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 thestern and the mainmast, and Ruby paced the forepart of the deck betweenthe bows and the mainmast, the two should occasionally meet at themainmast. It was also very natural that when they did meet, the girlwho had been rescued should stop and address a few words of gratitude tothe man who had saved her. But it was by no means natural--nay, it wasaltogether unnatural and unaccountable, that, when it became dark, thesaid man and the said girl should get into a close and confidentialconversation, which lasted for hours, to the amusement of Captain Ogilvyand the major, who quite understood it, and to the amazement of many ofthe ship'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 thedeck until his eyes began to shut and open involuntarily like those of asick owl. Then he also went below, and, before he fell quite asleep(according to his own impression), was awakened by the bell that calledthe men to land on the rock and commence work.
It was not only Ruby who found it difficult to rouse himself thatmorning. The landing-bell was rung at four o'clock, as the tide suitedat that early hour, but the men were so fatigued that they would gladlyhave slept some hours longer. This, however, the nature of the servicewould not admit of. The building of the Bell Rock Lighthouse was apeculiar service. It may be said to have resembled duty in the trenchesin military warfare. At times the work was light enough, but for themost part it was severe and irregular, as the men had to work in allkinds of weather, as long as possible, in the face of unusualdifficulties and dangers, and were liable to be called out at allunseasonable hours. But they knew and expected this, and faced the worklike men.
After a growl or two, and a few heavy sighs, they all tumbled out oftheir berths, and, in a very short time, were mustered on deck, where aglass of rum and a biscuit were served to each, being the regularallowance when they had to begin work before breakfast. Then they gotinto the boats and rowed away.
Ruby's troubles were peculiar on this occasion. He could not bear thethought of leaving the _Pharos_ without saying goodbye to Minnie; but asMinnie knew nothing of such early rising, there was no reasonable hopethat she would be awake. Then he wished to put a few questions to hisuncle which he had forgotten the day before, but his uncle was at thatmoment buried in profound repose, with his mouth wide open, and atrombone solo proceeding from his nose, which sadly troubled theunfortunates who lay near him.
As there was no way of escape from these difficulties, Ruby, like a wiseman, made up his mind to cast them aside, so, after swallowing hisallowance, he shouldered his big bellows, heaved a deep sigh, and tookhis place in one of the boats alongside.
The lassitude which strong men feel when obliged to rise before theyhave had enough of rest soon wears off. The two boats had not left the_Pharos_ twenty yards astern, when Joe Dumsby cried, "Ho! boys, let'shave a race."
"Hooray!" shouted O'Connor, whose elastic spirits were always equal toanything, "an' sure Ruby will sing us `The girl we've left behind us.'Och! an' there she is, av I'm not draymin'."
At that moment a little hand was waved from one of the ports of thefloating light. Ruby at once waved his in reply, but as the attentionof the men had been directed to the vessel by Ned's remark, each saw thesalutation, and, claiming it as a compliment to himself, uttered a loudcheer, which terminated in a burst of laughter, caused by the sight ofRuby's half-angry, half-ashamed expression of face.
As the other boat had shot ahead, however, at the first mention of theword "race", the men forgot this incident in their anxiety to overtaketheir comrades. In a few seconds both boats were going at full speed,and they kept it up all the way to the rock.
While this was going on, the _Smeaton's_ boat was getting ready to takethe strangers on board the sloop, and just as the workmen landed on therock, the _Smeaton_ cast loose her sails, and proceeded to Arbroath.
There were a few seals basking on the Bell Rock this morning when themen landed. These at once made off, and were not again seen during theday.
At first, seals were numerous on the rock. Frequently from fifty tosixty of them were counted at one time, and they seemed for a good whileunwilling to forsake their old quarters, but when the forge was set upthey could stand it no longer. Some of the boldest ventured to sunthemselves there occasionally, but when the clatter of the anvil and thewreaths of smoke became matters of daily occurrence, they forsook therock finally, and sought the peace and quiet which man denied them therein other regions of the deep.
The building of the lighthouse was attended with difficulties at everystep. As a short notice of some of these, and an account of the mode inwhich the great work was carried on, cannot fail to be interesting toall who admire those engineering works which exhibit prominently thetriumph of mind over matter, we shall turn aside for a brief space toconsider this subject.