The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-05

believe he valued the life of one at half
,arthing. But that part of the coast of
Lothian Is to this day as wild place, and
the commons there as rough a crew as any
IN scotland. OF some of the most impious
OF their doings il CHANGED I was TO
| the time OF my imprisonment. 1t
came on one day TO blow gale from
| the northeast. The wind screamed and
the sea beat about our crag without remis-
SION. A huge cavern IS pierced into the
Bass from the sea front. and the sound of
tie waves booming within was like the
sounding OF some creatures bowels. Set
as We were In the midst of this uproar.
with the constant dreadful spectacle OF
bursting seas before our eyes. we all fell
into what seemed fever OF excitement.
moving swiftly and uselessiy about IN
continual change of place and occupation.
Night was come when this uneasiness took
me, when l sat by the cheek of warm
IRE. and must have me 10 the summit OF
the Bass Ii is to be supposed that An
Die was no more ut quiet than myself, tor
he very readily consented 10 be my guide
and companion IN this da t-like enterprise.
This was no doubt particular good for
tune 70 myself; had l gone alone l
must surely have been blown away. or
fallen in the darkness from the cliffs; and
even with Andie's knowledge and our con-
joint strength, | think it wonder that
to get back again. There was very little
to see when We got there, and less light TO
see Il bv; and when the gusts came It
seemed the eyes would be blown or washed
out OF our faces. Yet upon the left |
could observe the beacon fire on the May
isle 10 blaze up with extraordinary flashes,
like burning garship. die down till |
could have supposed IL was extinguished.
and with the next gowl of wind lame
forth again out OF the blaekness. On the
other hand, where the Lothian coast
should have appeared, we perceived sec
ord light, winch seemed TO move very
much in the style Of a ships riding Ian
tern, heaving on the waves. / asked of
Andie what this was
''Yon II be the Pagans o. SconIl." says
he, and he explained it would be a lantern
made fast to cows horns, then again
dashed to the creatures knee, and the
whole driven TO and fro on the cliff tops TO
be decoy to ships.
why. that is wrecking,"I exclaimed.
He owned it, and tod me the lads of
ScovIi, Auldadam, Castleton of Tantalion,
and the country round about were much
addicted to this horrid practice, for the
which he expressed distate as violent as
my own. But of course" he added,
''aince the ships ashore [ would be
naething but fule if / didnae see to get
my ain share of her alongst the neebors."
y second incident of this Imprisonment
ildJe lutislJTaNlt consequence IL
had long after. There was q warship at
this time stationed in the Firth, the Sea-
horse, Capt. Paiiiser. Ii CHANGED she was
cruising in the month of September ply.
ing between Fife and Lothian, and sound
ing FOR sunk dangers. Early one fine
morning she was seen about two miles
to east OF us, where she lowered a
boat. and seemed 10 examine the Wildf-e
rocks and Satans bush, famous dangers
OF that coast. And presently, after having
got her boat again she came before the
wind and was headed directly for the
Bass. This was very troublesome to Andie
and the Highianders; the whole business
OF my seqnestration was designed for
privacy, and here, with a navy captain
perhaps laundering ashore, it looked to
become public enough, if il were nothing
worse. L was In minority of one, / am
no Alan 10 fall upon so many, and / was
far from sure that a warship was the best
likely to improve my condition. All
which considered, | gave Andie my parole
of good behavior and obedience, and was
had brlsKly to the summit of the rock
where We all lay down at the
cliffs edge, in different places of
observation and concealment. The
Seahorse came straight on till |
thought she would have struck. and We
Cooking giddily down. could see the ships
company at their quarters and hear the
leadsman singing al the lead. Then she
suddenly wore and let hy yoiley of |
know not how many great guns. The
rock was shaken with the thunder of the
sound. the smoke flowed over our heads
and the geese rose in number beyond COM
putation or belief. To hear their scream
ing and to see the twinkling Of their wings
made most inimitable curiosity; and |
suppose that il was after this somewhat
childish pleasure that Capt. PaIliser had
come so near the Bass. He was to paw
dear for il in time. During his approach
had the opportunity TO make a remark
upon the rigging of that ship by which |
ever after knew il miles away; and this
was the means tunder Providence of my
averting from a friend a great calamity
and infiicting on Capt. Palliser himself a
sensible disappointment.
All the time of my stay on the rock we
lived well. We had small ale and brandy
and oatmeal, of which we made our por-
ridge night and morning. At times boat
came from the Castleton and brought US a
quarter OF mutton, for the sheep upon the
rock we must not touch, these being spe-