ch tales
of rapine and plunder as few writers would venture to record. The
cavern appeared, to those who might wander along the sea-shore, to be
but a deep and natural excavation into a huge rock, the western
extremity of which ran out into the ocean, and therefore compelled the
traveller to ascend a kind of artificial steps, in order to pass to the
other side: the beach was, consequently, but little frequented, as
leading to no necessary point, and as the inhabitants of the adjoining
cottage, with which our readers are already familiar, had taken especial
care to form several paths in various directions from its door, but none
leading down to this part of the neighbouring cliffs, it was but rarely
that the whiteness of the rocks was defaced by any foot save that of the
daring bird from whom it received its name, and by whom it was regarded
as his own natural and undisputed property.

Whether the cavern into which we are about to enter was originally
framed by some freak of Nature, or was the invention and subsequent
accomplishment of art, we are unable to determine. Like many a structure
better formed to endure for ages, it has been long swept away by the
encroachments of the sea, which, since the period we write of, has been
gradually gaining upon the land. Even at the present moment, there are
old men dwelling in the neighbourhood who can remember houses and
corn-fields where now a proud ship may ride at anchor. From time to
time, without the slightest warning, some immense rock falls, and
mingles with the ocean, which soon dashes aside every trace of its
existence, leaving merely a new surface, to vanish in its turn under the
influence of a power, silent and patient, but inevitable and
unconquerable.

Immediately as the moonlight was left behind, the cavern became high and
arched, as if either Nature, or some skilful workman under her
superintendence, had foreseen to what important purposes it might be
applied. Huge masses of flint, and still larger fragments of granite,
were scattered about as if by giant hands, yet without any seeming
attention to order or regularity. The initiated, however, well knew that
such was not the case. Burrell, immediately on entering, proceeded to
the farther extremity, and kneeling, placed his mouth to the ground, and
gave a loud sharp whistle: he then stood erect, at a little distance
from the spot on which he had knelt. Presently what appeared a lump of
grey stone, moved upwards, t