ts receding growl."

"Again!" As she said this, Bridget rose from the low stool she had
occupied, and hobbled towards the window. I thought a signal-gun was
just then audible, as from some vessel in distress. Ere I could
communicate this intelligence, another and a nearer roll silenced all
conjecture. It was indeed but too evident that a vessel was in the
offing, and rapidly driving towards the shore, from the increasing
distinctness of the signals.

Old Bridget stood by the window; her dim and anxious eyes peering
through the casement as if she could discern the fearful and appalling
spectacle upon the dark billows.

"Your last!--your last, poor wretches!" she cried, when a heavy gust
brought another report with amazing distinctness to the ear. "And now
the death shriek!--another and another!--ye drop into the deep waters,
and the gulf is not gorged with its prey. Bridget Rimmer, girl and
woman, has ne'er watched the blue dancers but she has heard the sea-gun
follow, and seen the red sand decked with the spoil. Wench, take not of
the prey: 'tis accursed!"

The beldame drew back after uttering this anathema, and again resumed
her station near the hearth.

The storm now seemed to abate, and as if satisfied with the mischief at
this moment consummating, the wind grew comparatively calm. The gusts
came by fitfully, like the closing sobs of some fretful and peevish
babe, not altogether ceasing with the indulgence of its wishes. As I
stood absorbed in a reverie, the nature of which I cannot now accurately
determine, the maiden gently touched my arm.

"Sir, will ye walk to the shore? I'se warrant the neighbours are
helping, and we may save a life though we canna gie it."

She was wrapped in a thick cloak, the hood thrown forward, and the horn
lantern again put in requisition, fitted up for immediate service. We
opened the door with considerable difficulty, and waded slowly through
the heavy sand-drifts towards the beech. The clouds, shattered and
driven together in mountainous heaps, were rolling along the sky, a dark
scud sweeping over their huge tops, here and there partially illuminated
by the moonbeams: the moon was still obscured, but a wild and faint
light, usually seen after the breaking up of a storm, just served to
show the outline of objects not too remote from our sphere of vision.

My companion soon brought me to an opening in the hills which led
directly down to the beach. Immediately I saw lights before