portions composed of wood
obtained from wrecks, the bulkheads serving as wainscoting to the rooms.
Both from their size and the fittings they resembled the cabins of a
small vessel, being warmed also by ship's stoves, with high flues,
curiously topped, rising above the roof, exhibiting a variety of
contrivances to prevent the smoke from beating down. The tar-bucket and
paint-pot had been brought largely into requisition, the wood-work of
the lower story being covered with a shining coat of black, while
various colours adorned the walls both inside and out. The old
lieutenant might frequently have been seen, brush in hand, adorning his
mansion, and stopping up every crevice, so as to defy damp, or rain
driven against it by the fiercest of south-westerly gales. It was
substantially roofed with thick slabs of slate, obtained from a
neighbouring quarry, calculated to withstand the storms of winter or the
thickest downfall of snow. The building had, however, so slight an
appearance that it looked as if it might be carried by a strong wind
into the sea; but a closer inspection showed that the materials of which
it was composed were well seasoned and firmly put together, and though
gaily bedecked, fire was the only element it had to fear, and against
that the owner had taken all necessary precautions.

"Sally, sister Sally!" he shouted, as he neared the door, "I have
brought a guest who requires careful looking after, or he'll slip
through our fingers, for he's pretty well gone already."

As he spoke, the door opened, and a female appeared holding a shaded
lamp in her hand, which the wind threatened every instant to extinguish.
Her figure was short and slight, her dress a grey silk gown, a plain
lace cap confining her once dark hair, already sprinkled with grey,
drawn back from her forehead, on which not a wrinkle could be seen. A
kind expression beamed from her countenance, which, if it had never
possessed much beauty, must always have been pleasant to look upon.

"Thank Heaven you've come back at last, John! Tom frightened me by the
intelligence that a wreck was on shore, and I knew that you would be
exposing yourself to danger. Have many of the poor fellows been saved?"

"Only one, I fear," answered the lieutenant, pointing to the men who now
approached. "Take him into my room, Tom; the sooner he is in bed the
better, and mine is ready for him. Get some warm broth or a cup of tea
made in the meantime. He is te