y patience-trying occupation; and,
when completed, the gusts that were eddying round the house, ready to
force their way in everywhere, took advantage of the first opening to
blow out his candle.

However, they had in one way done good service, for the shower had
been as brief as it was violent, and the inky cloud was drifting away
furiously towards the east, leaving the moon visible, near her setting,
and allowing her white cold light to shine forth, contrasting with the
distant sheets of pale lightning, growing fainter and fainter.

Guy ran across the court, round to the west side of the house, and
struggled up the slope in the face of the wind, which almost swept him
down again; and when at length he had gained the summit, came rushing
against him with such force that he could hardly stand. He did, however,
keep his ground, and gazed out over the sea. The swell was fearful;
marked by the silver light on one side, where it caught the moonbeams,
and the black shade on the other, ever alternating, so that the eye
could, not fix on them for a moment; the spray leapt high in its
whiteness, and the Shag stood up hard, bold, and black. The waves
thundered, bursting on the cliff and, high as he stood, the spray dashed
almost blinding in his face, while the wind howled round him, as if
gathering its might for the very purpose of wrenching him from the
cliff; but he stood firm, and looked out again, to discern clearly
what he thought he had seen. It was the mast of a vessel, seen plainly
against the light silvery distance of sea on the reef west of the Shag.
It was in a slanting direction, and did not move; he could not doubt
that the ship had struck on the dangerous rocks at the entrance of the
bay; and as his eyes became more accustomed to the unusual light, and
made out what objects were or were not familiar, he could perceive the
ship herself. He looked with the glass, but could see no one on board,
nor were any boats in sight; but observing some of the lesser rocks,
he beheld some moving figures on them. Help!--instant help!--was his
thought; and he looked towards the Cove. Lights were in the cottage
windows, and a few sounds came up to him, as if the fishing population
were astir.

He hastened to the side of the cliff, which was partly clothed with
brushwood. There was a descent--it could hardly be called a path--which
no one ventured to attempt but himself and a few of the boldest
birds'-nesting boys of the village;