required for that season were
put into this store-room; but on the 7th of the same month the enemy
made a grand assault in force, and caused these energetic labourers to
beat a retreat. It was then resolved that they should again retire into
winter quarters. Everything on the Rock was therefore "made taut" and
secure against the foe, and the workers returned to the shore, whence
they beheld the waves beating against their tower with such fury that
the sprays rose high above it.

The season could not close, however, without an exhibition of the
peculiar aptitude of the _Buss_ for disastrous action! On the 8th that
inimitable vessel--styled by Teddy Maroon a "tub," and by the other men,
variously, a "bumboat," a "puncheon," and a "brute" began to tug with
tremendous violence at her cable.

"Ah then, darlin'," cried Maroon, apostrophising her, "av ye go on like
that much longer it's snappin' yer cable ye'll be after."

"It wouldn't be the first time," growled John Bowden, as he leaned
against the gale and watched with gravity of countenance a huge billow
whose crest was blown off in sheets of spray as it came rolling towards
them.

"Howld on!" cried Teddy Maroon, in anxiety.

If his order was meant for the _Buss_ it was flatly disobeyed, for that
charming example of naval architecture, presenting her bluff bows to the
billow, snapt the cable and went quietly off to leeward!

"All hands ahoy!" roared William Smart as he rushed to the foresail
halyards.

The summons was not needed. All the men were present, and each knew
exactly what to do in the circumstances. But what avails the strength
and capacity of man when his weapon is useless?

"She'll _never_ beat into Plymouth Sound wi' the wind in this
direction," observed one of the masons, when sail had been set.

"Beat!" exclaimed another contemptuously, "she can't beat with the wind
in _any_ direction."

"An' yit, boys," cried Maroon, "she may be said to be a first-rate
baiter, for she always baits _us_ complaitly."

"I never, no I never did see such a scow!" said John Bowden, with a
deepening growl of indignation, "she's more like an Irish pig than a--"

"Ah then, don't be hard upon the poor pigs of owld Ireland," interrupted
Maroon, pathetically.

"Bah!" continued Bowden, "I only wish we had the man that planned her on
board, that we might keel-haul him. I've sailed in a'most every kind of
craft that floats--from a Chinese junk to a British three-deck