The Lighthouse | Page 3

proverbially wait
for no 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 rock without being capsized, there was only a
space of two or three hours--sometimes more, frequently less--so it
behoved the men to economise time.
Rocks covered with wet seaweed and rugged in form are not easy to
walk over; a fact which was soon proved by Swankie staggering
violently once or twice, and by Spink 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 of the rocks, and
from time to time picking up articles which they thrust into their
pockets or laid on their shoulders, according as weight and dimensions
required.
In a short time they returned to their boat pretty well laden.
"Weel, lad, what luck?" enquired Spink, as Swankie and he met--the
former with a grappling iron on his shoulder, the latter staggering under
the weight of a mass of metal.
"Not much," replied Swankie; "nothin' but heavy metal this mornin',
only a bit of a cookin' stove an' a cannon shot--that's all."
"Never mind, try again. There must ha' bin two or three wrecks on the
rock this gale," said Davy, as he and his friend threw their burdens into
the boat, and hastened to resume the search.
At first Spink was the more successful of the two. He returned to the

boat with various articles more than once, while his comrade continued
his rambles unsuccessfully. At last, however, Big Swankie came to a
gully or inlet where a large mass of the debris of a wreck was piled up
in indescribable confusion, in the midst of which lay the dead body of
an old man. Swankie's first impulse was to shout to his companion, but
he checked himself, and proceeded to examine the pockets of the dead
man.
Raising the corpse with some difficulty he placed it on the ledge of
rock. Observing a ring on the little finger of the right hand, he removed
it and put it hastily in his pocket. Then he drew a red morocco case
from an inner breast pocket in the dead man's coat. To his surprise and
delight he found that it contained a gold 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 and a pencil-case; in another a leather purse, which
felt heavy as he drew it out. His eyes sparkled at the first glance he got
of the contents, for they were sovereigns! Just as he made this
discovery, Davy Spink climbed over the ledge at his back, and Swankie
hastily thrust the purse underneath the body of the dead man.
"Hallo! lad, what have ye there? Hey! watches and rings--come, we're
in luck this mornin'."
"We!" exclaimed Swankie, somewhat sternly, "you didn't find that
case."
"Na, lad, but we've aye divided, an' I dinna see what for we should
change our plan noo."
"We've nae paction to that effec'--the case o' kickshaws is mine,"
retorted Swankie.
"Half o't," suggested Spink.
"Weel, weel," cried the other with affected carelessness, "I'd scorn to be

sae graspin'. For the matter o' that ye may hae it all to yersel', but I'll
hae the next thing we git that's worth muckle a' to mysel'."
So saying Swankie stooped to continue his search of the body, and in a
moment or two drew out the purse with an exclamation of surprise.
"See, I'm in luck, Davy! Virtue's aye rewarded, they say. This is mine,
and I doot not there'll be some siller intilt."
"Goold!" cried Davy, with dilated eyes, as his comrade emptied the
contents into his large hand, and counted over thirty sovereigns.
"Ay, lad, ye can keep the what-d'ye-ca'-ums, and I'll keep the siller."
"I've seen that face before," observed Spink, looking intently at the
body.
"Like enough," said Swankie, with an air of indifference, as he put the
gold into his pocket. "I think I've seed it mysel'. It looks like auld Jamie
Brand, but I didna ken him weel."
"It's just him," said Spink, with a touch of sadness. "Ay, ay, that'll fa'
heavy on the auld woman. But, come, it'll no' do to stand haverin' this
way. Let's see what else is on him."
They found nothing more of any value; but a piece of paper was
discovered, wrapped up in oilskin, and carefully fastened with red tape,
in the