illing. But not
all; in nearly every flock there is a black sheep or so, that requires
weeding out. There were two such sheep among the builders of the
Eddystone. Being good at everything, Smeaton was a good weeder. He
soon had them up by the roots and cast out. A foreman proved to be
disorderly, and tried to make the men promise, "that if he should be
discharged they would all follow him." Smeaton at once assembled the
men and gave orders that such of them as had any dependence on, or
attachment to, the refractory foreman, should take up his tools and
follow him. Only one did so--the rest stood firm.

At this time the weather was very unsettled, and the work progressed
slowly. Once or twice it was still further retarded, by men who should
have known better, in the following manner:

One evening one of the lighthouse boats was boarded by a cutter, the
officer in charge of which proceeded to "impress" several of the men
into the navy.

"It's to be pressed we are," murmured Teddy Maroon to one of his mates,
in a vexed tone, "sure the tater-heads might know we've got an Admiralty
protection."

Whether the officer knew this or not, it was evident that he had
overheard the remark, for, after selecting two of the best men, he
turned, and, pointing to Maroon, said aloud:--

"Let that tater-head also jump on board. He's not worth much, but the
service is in want of powder-monkeys just now. Perhaps he'll do. If
not, I'll send him back."

Thus was the poor Irishman carried off with his two mates to fight the
battles of his country! In a few days, however, they were all sent
back, and the indiscreet officer who had impressed them got a reprimand
for his pains. After the first season they had no further interruptions
from this source.

Large mainsails were given them for their boats, with a lighthouse
painted on each, and every man obtained besides a silver medal of
exemption from impressment.

But this was only the commencement of poor Teddy's "throubles" at that
time. He had scarcely returned to his work when a new one overtook him.
This was, however, in the way of business.

"Teddy, my fine fellow," said Richardson, the foreman, as they stood on
the deck of the _Buss_ holding on to the mizzen shrouds, "it's quite
clear to me that with the wind dead against them like this, the relief
boat with Hill's company won't be able to get off, and as we're short of
provisions, I mean to take the big yawl and go as