The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07

houses to gaze at me. believe was known far and wide as the "msd laird of Mansie." It was rarely, however, that made these raids into the country, for usually took my exercise upon my own beach, where l soothed my spirit with strong black tobacco, and made the ocean my friend and my con6dant.
 What companion is there ike the great srestless, throbbing seal What human mood is there which 1t does not match and sympathize with2 There are none so gay but that they may feel gayer when they listen to its merry turmoil, and see the long green surgcs racing in, with the glint of the sunbeams in their sparkling crests. But when the gray wives toss their heads in anger, and the wind screams above them, goading them on to madder and more tumultuous efforts, then the darkest-minded of men feels that there is a melancholy principle in nature which is as gloomy as his own thoughts. When 1t was calm in the bay of Mansie the surface would be as clear and bright as a sheet of silver, broken only at one spot some little way from the shore, where long black line projected out of the water looking like the jagged back of some sleeping monster. This
 was the top of the dangerous ridge of rocks known to the fishermen as the ragged reef O Mansie." When the wind blew from the east the waves would break upon it like thunder, and the spray
 would be tossed far over my house and up to the hills behind. The bay itsel. was bold and noble one. but too much exposed to the northern and eastern gales, and too much dreaded for its reef. to be much used by mariners. There was something of romance about this lonely spot. 1 have lain in my boat upon calm day, and peering over the edge have seen far down the flickering ghostly forms of great fish-6sh, as it seemed to me, such as naturalists never knew, and which my imagination trans formed into the genii of that desolate bay. Once, as stood by the brink of the waters upon a quiet night, a great cry. as of woman in hopeless grief, rose from the bosom of the deep, and swelled out upon the still air, now sinking and now rising, for space of thirty seconds This l heard with my own ears.
 In this strange spot, with the eternal hills behind me and the eternal sea in front, l worked and brooded for more than two years unpestered by my fellow men. By degrees had trained my old servant into habits of silence, SO that she now rarely opened her lips, though 1 doubt not that when twice year she visited her relations in Wick, her tongue during those few days made up for its enforced rest. had come almost to for get that l was member of the human family and to live entirely with the dead whose books pored over, when a sud- den incident occurred which threw all nv thoughts into new channel.
 Three rough days in June had been succeeded by one calm and peaceful one. There was net breath of air that even ing. The sun sank down in the west behind line of purple clouds, and the smooth surface of the bay was gashed with scarlet streaks. Along the beach the pools left by the tide showed up like gouts of blood against the yellow sand. as if some wounded giant had toilfully passed that way, and had left these red traces of his grievous hurt behind him. As the darkness closed in, certain ragged clouds which had lain low on the eastern horizon coalesced and formed a great irregular cumulus. The glass was still low, and l knew that there was mischief brewing. About nine o'clock a dull moaning sound came up from the sea, as from a creature who, much harassed. learns that the hour of suffering has come around again. At ten a sharp breeze sprang up from the eastward. At eleven 1t had increased to gale, and by mid night the most furious storm was raging which ever remember upon that weather beaten coast
 As went to bed the shingle and sea- weed were pattering up against my attic window, and the wind was screaming as though every gust were a lost soul. Bv that time the sounds of the tempest had become lullaby to me. I knew that the gray walls of the old house would buffet 1t out, and for what occurred in the world outside had small concern. old Madge was usually as callous to such things as was myself. Itwas surprise to me, when, about three in the morning, F was awoke by the sound of a great knocking at my door and excited cries in the wheezy voice of my housekeeper. Il sprang out ofmy hammock, and roughly demanded of her what was the matter.
 Eh, maister, maister 1" she screamed in her hateful dialect. "Come doun. nun come doun! There's muckle ship gaun ashore on the reef and the puir folks are a ysmmesin' and cain for help -and l doot they'll a be drooned. Oh, Maister McVittie, come doun |"
 ." Hold your tongue, you hagp T. shouted back in passion. "What is it to you whether they are drowned or not ? Get back to your bed and leave me alone" turned in again and drew the blankets over me. "Those men out there," l said to myself, "have already gone through half the horrors of death. If they be saved, they will but have to 20 through the same once more in the space of few brief years. It is best therefore that they should pass away nov, since they have suffered that anticipation which is more than the pain of dissolution.n n With this thought in my mind endsav- ored to compose myself to sleep once m0YR fnr that nhsfr.o~h~ -A.sl I.S