as the
blacksmith shouted to him at that moment, he turned on his heel and
leaped from ledge to ledge of rock until he gained his wonted place at
the forge.

Soon he was busy wielding the fore-hammer, causing the sparks to fly
about himself and his comrade in showers, while the anvil rang out its
merry peal.

Meanwhile the boat drew near. It turned out to be a party of visitors,
who had come off from Arbroath to see the operations at the Bell Rock.
They had been brought off by Spink, the pilot, and numbered only three--
namely, a tall soldier-like man, a stout sailor-like man, and a young
woman with--yes,--with golden hair.

Poor Ruby almost leaped over the forge when he raised his eyes from his
work and caught sight of Minnie's sweet face. Minnie had recognised her
lover before the boat reached the rock, for he stood on an elevated
ledge, and the work in which he was engaged, swinging the large hammer
round his shoulder, rendered him very conspicuous. She had studiously
concealed her face from him until quite close, when, looking him
straight in the eyes without the least sign of recognition, she turned
away.

We have said that the first glance Ruby obtained caused him to leap
nearly over the forge; the second created such a revulsion of feeling
that he let the fore-hammer fall.

"Hallo! Got a spark in yer eye?" enquired Dove, looking up anxiously.

It flashed across Ruby at that instant that the look given him by Minnie
was meant to warn him not to take any notice of her, so he answered the
smith's query with "No, no; I've only let the hammer fall, don't you
see? Get on, old boy, an don't let the metal cool."

The smith continued his work without further remark, and Ruby assisted,
resolving in his own mind to be a little more guarded as to the
expression of his feelings.

Meanwhile Mr Stevenson received the visitors, and showed them over the
works, pointing out the peculiarities thereof, and the difficulties that
stood in the way.

Presently he came towards the forge, and said, "Brand, the stout
gentleman there wishes to speak to you. He says he knew you in
Arbroath. You can spare him for a few minutes, I suppose, Mr Dove?"

"Well, yes, but not for long," replied the smith. "The tide will soon
be up, and I've enough to do to get through with all these."

Ruby flung down his hammer at the first word, and hastened to the ledge
of rock where the visitors were standing, as far apart from the workmen