were very much in this state when, in the spring, the operations
at the Bell Rock were resumed.

Jamie Dove, Ruby, Robert Selkirk, and several of the principal workmen,
accompanied the engineers on their first visit to the rock, and they
sailed towards the scene of their former labours with deep and peculiar
interest, such as one might feel on renewing acquaintance with an old
friend who had passed through many hard and trying struggles since the
last time of meeting.

The storms of winter had raged round the Bell Rock as usual--as they had
done, in fact, since the world began; but that winter the handiwork of
man had also been exposed to the fury of the elements there. It was
known that the beacon had survived the storms, for it could be seen by
telescope from the shore in clear weather--like a little speck on the
seaward horizon. Now they were about to revisit the old haunt, and have
a close inspection of the damage that it was supposed must certainly
have been done.

To the credit of the able engineer who planned and carried out the whole
works, the beacon was found to have resisted winds and waves
successfully.

It was on a bitterly cold morning about the end of March that the first
visit of the season was paid to the Bell Rock. Mr Stevenson and his
party of engineers and artificers sailed in the lighthouse yacht; and,
on coming within a proper distance of the rock, two boats were lowered
and pushed off. The sea ran with such force upon the rock that it
seemed doubtful whether a landing could be effected. About half-past
eight, when the rock was fairly above water, several attempts were made
to land, but the breach of the sea was still so great that they were
driven back.

On the eastern side the sea separated into two distinct waves, which
came with a sweep round the western side, where they met, and rose in a
burst of spray to a considerable height. Watching, however, for what
the sailors termed a _smooth_, and catching a favourable opportunity,
they rowed between the two seas dexterously, and made a successful
landing at the western creek.

The sturdy beacon was then closely examined. It had been painted white
at the end of the previous season, but the lower parts of the posts were
found to have become green--the sea having clothed them with a soft
garment of weed. The sea-birds had evidently imagined that it was put
up expressly for their benefit; for a number of cormorants and large
herring-gul