The Press., 1892-06-23
OUR MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

A &a
 "The brtg's Wrecked Gasd ttey're
 drolDned!'
 In the morning it was still blowing a whole gale, though the sky was blue for the most part. Our guest was up betimes and we walked down to the beach to- gether. It was sight to see the great rollers sweeping in overlapping one an. other like herd of oxen, and then burst ing with a roar, sending the Carracuil pebbles flying before them like grapeshot and filling the whole air with drifting spume.
 We were standing together watching the scene, when looking round saw my father hurrying toward us. He had been up and out since early dawn. When he saw us looking he began waving his hands and shouting, but the wind car ried his voice away. We ran toward him, however, seeing that he was heavy with news.
 "The briggs wrecked and they're a. drowned" he cried as we met him "What? roared our visitor.
 If ever I heard exceeding great joy compressed into a monosyllable it vii brated in that one s..
 "They're a drowned and naething savedr repeated my father 'Colne yourself and see."
 We followed him across the Combera to the level sands on the other side. They were strewn with wreckage, brok- en pieces of bulwark and handrail, pan cling of cabin and an occasional cask. A single large spar was tossing in the waves close to the shore, occasionally shooting up toward the sky like some giants javelin, then sinking and disap- bearing in the trough of the great scoop, ing seas. Digby hurried up to the near est piece of timber and stepping over it examined 1t intently.
 "By God!" he said at last, taking in 8 long breath between his teeth, "you are right. It's the Proserpine, and all hands are lost. What a terrible thingP His face was very solemn as he spoke but his eye danced and glittered. l was beginning to conceive a great repug. nance and distrust toward this man.
 "Is there no chance of any one having got ashore?' he said.
 "Na, na, nor cargo neither" my ia ther answered, with real grief in his voice. "Ye dinna ken this coast. There's an awful undertow outside the Winners and it's a swept round to the Holy Isle. Dell take it, if there was to be ship. wreck what for should they no run their ship agroond to the east'ard O the point and let an honest nun have the pickings instead O the rascally looms ir Arran? An empty barrel might float in here, but there's no-chance O sea chest, let alane a body
 "Poor fellowsl'' said Digby. "But there-we must meet it some day, and why not here and now. I've lost my ship, but thank heaven l can buy an very sad. warned Lamarck that he was waiting too long with low barom eter and an ugly shore under his lee. He has himself to thank. He was my first offcer-a prying, covetous. meddlesome l hound"
 "Don't call him names" said He's dead"
 "Well said, my young prigr' he all swered. Perhaps you wouldn't be SC mealy mouthed yourself if you lost five thousand pounds before breakfast. But there-there's no use crying over spilled milk. Vogue la galore! as the French say. Things ara never so bad but that they might be worse
 1 My father and Digby staid at the scene of the wreck, but l walked over to Corrielnains to reassure Minnie's mind as to the apparition at the window. Her | opinion, when l told her all, coincided with mine that perhaps the crew of the brig knew more about the stranger than he cared for. We agreed that should keep close eye upon him without letting him know that he was watched. But oh, Archie" she said, rye lnunua cross him or anger him while he carries them awful weapons. Yemaun be douce and saft and no gainsay him."
 laughed and promisGd her to be yer! 1 prudent, which reassured her little 1 Old Fullarton walked back with me il the hope of picking up piece of timber and both he and my father patrolled the shore for many days without, however finding any prize of importance, for the undercurrent off the Winners was very strong, and everything had probably drifted right around to Lamlash bay 1T l Arran l It was wonderful how quickly tn, stranger accommodated himself to oul insular ways, and how useful he made himself about the homesteading. Withir fortnight he knew the island almost a. well as Idid myself. Had it not beer for that one unpleasant recollection o the shipwreck which ranked in my re membrance could have found it in my heart to become fond of him. His nature was tropical one-fercely depressed at times, but sunny as rule, bursting con tinually into jest and song from pure in stinct, ill manner which Is unknown | among us northerners. In his gravel moments he was most interesting com panion, talking shrewdly and eloquent ly of men and manners, and his own in numerable and strange adventures.
 Ihave seldom heard q more brilliant conversationist. Of an evening he would keep my father and myself spellbount by the kitchen fire for hours ant hours, while he chatted away in desul tory fashion and smoked his cigarettes It seemed to me that the packet he hat brought with him ap the first night mus have consisted q lrely of tobacco.
 noticed that in these conversations which were mostly addressed to my ia