on an extra log or two. Once more
silence reigned, and Estelle fell asleep.

But though she was able to rouse herself a little now and then, she lay
for the greater part of the day in a dreamy state, often dropping
asleep, and having to be coaxed to take the necessary nourishment. Very
white and frail she looked, as if it would not take much of a puff to
blow her away. Nevertheless, each day brought an increase of appetite
and strength, and each day she grew fonder of her careful, tender nurse,
as well as of Mrs. Wright's giant son. As Estelle grew stronger, she
began to notice how the two loved each other with no ordinary love. 'Her
Jack' was everything to his mother; yet Estelle, listening in the
dreamy, half-conscious way produced by extreme weakness, was sure she
heard a sigh sometimes when Mrs. Wright was speaking of him. Jack's
manner, too, often made Estelle think he had hurt his mother in some
way, and was trying his best to make up to her for it by love and
devotion.

(_Continued on page 198._)

MARVELS OF MAN'S MAKING.

VI.-PLYMOUTH BREAKWATER.

[Illustration]

Through Mr. John Rennie, the builder of London Bridge, was the chief
designer and engineer of the Plymouth Breakwater, the waves of the
English Channel gave him great assistance; and unlike other workmen,
they asked for no pay. We shall see presently how they worked. In 1806,
the Lords of the Admiralty made up their minds, for good and all, that
something _must_ be done to make the splendid harbour of Plymouth Sound
a safer place of refuge in case of storm. Mr. John Rennie and another
engineer, named Whidbey, were asked to go to Plymouth and look at the
Sound, and then say what they thought should be done.

The authorities took five years to make up their minds. But Rennie
persistently called attention to the map of Plymouth Sound.

'If you build a long stone pier out from either shore so as to break the
force of the waves,' said he, 'you will interfere with the free flow of
the currents from the river-mouths, and cause them to drop the sand and
soil, which they are ever carrying out to sea, until the harbour-mouth
is choked by them. The harbour has been formed into its present shape by
the free actions of current and tide, and if these be altered by
artificial means, the shape and safety will be destroyed.' Then he went
on to explain that the proper thing to do was to build a wall in the
Sound itself, without letting it touch the land