such a slope of a
foundation, you know, it requires great weight to prevent the seas
washin' a lighthouse clean away."

"I've thought the same thing, father, but what you and I only thought of
Smeaton has stated, and intends to act upon. He means to build a tower
so solid that it will defy the utmost fury of winds and waves. He is
going to cut the sloping foundation into a series of steps or shelves,
which will prevent the possibility of slipping. The shape of the
building is to be something like the trunk of an oak tree, with a wider
base than the lighthouse of Rudyerd. The first twenty feet or so of it
is to be built solid; each stone to be made in the shape of a dovetail,
and all the stones circling round a central key to which they will
cling, as well as to each other, besides being held by bolts and cement,
so that the lower part of the building will be as firm as the rock on
which it stands. But I daresay, father," continued his son, with a
glance at Teddy Maroon, "our friend here, being engaged on the work, has
told you all about this already."

"Not I," said Maroon, quickly, "I've bin too busy to come here until
to-day, and though I've got me own notions o' what Mr Smeaton intends,
by obsarvin' what's goin' on, I han't guessed the quarter o' what you've
towld me, sur. Howsever, I can spake to what's bin already done. You
must know," said Teddy, with a great affectation of being particular,
"Mr Smeaton has wisely secured his workmen by howldin' out pleasant
prospects to 'em. In the first place, we've got good regular wages, an'
additional pay whin we're on the Rock. In the second place, extra work
on shore is paid for over an' above the fixed wages. In the third
place, each man has got his appinted dooty, an's kep close at it. In
the fourth place, the rules is uncommon stringent, and instant dismissal
follers the breakin' of 'em. In the fifth place--"

"Never mind the fifth place, Teddy," interrupted old John, "like yer
father, ye was ever too fond o' waggin' yer tongue. Just tell us
straight off, if ye can, what's been already done at the Rock."

"Well, well," said Maroon, with a deprecatory smile, "owld father an'
me's always bin misonderstud more or less; but no matter. Av coorse
we've had the usual difficulties to fight agin, for the owld Eddystone
Rock ain't agoin' to change its natur to please nobody. As me father
described it in _his_ day, so I finds it in mine. On most of our first
vis