rought
the career of our hero, John Potter, and his mates to an abrupt close.

CHAPTER THREE.

A VIOLENT INTERRUPTION.

The incident referred to in our last chapter occurred on the afternoon
of a calm summer day. Early that morning, shortly after daybreak, Mr
Rudyerd, with his engineers and workmen, put off in the boat to resume
operations on the rock after a lapse of nearly a week, during which
period rough weather had stopped the work. They landed without
difficulty, the calm being so complete that there was only a little sea
caused by the heavy swell on the south-west side of the Eddystone Rock,
the leeside being as quiet as a pond.

"It's not often we have weather like this sir," observed John Potter to
Mr Rudyerd, as the heavily-laden boat approached the landing place.

"True, John; a few weeks like this would enable us almost to complete
the courses," replied the engineer. "Easy, lads, easy! If you run her
up so fast you'll stave in the planks. Stand by with the fender,
Teddy!"

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the man, springing up and seizing a stuffed canvas
ball, which he swung over the gunwale just in time to prevent the boat's
side from grazing the rock. "There now: jump out wi' the painter; man
alive!" said Teddy, addressing himself to Isaac Dorkin, who was
naturally slow in his movements, "you'll go souse between the boat an'
the rock av ye don't be smarter nor that."

Dorkin made some grumbling reply as he stepped upon the rock, and
fastened the painter to a ring-bolt. His comrades sprang after him, and
while some began to heave the tools from the boat, others busied
themselves round the base of the column, which had by that time risen to
a considerable height. It looked massive enough to bid defiance to wind
and waves, however fierce their fury. Some such thought must have
passed through Mr Rudyerd's mind just then, for a satisfied smile
lighted up his usually grave features as he directed the men to arrange
the tackle of the crane, by which the stones were to be removed from the
boat to their place on the building. They were all quickly at work; for
they knew from experience how suddenly their operations might be cut
short by a gale.

In order that the reader may fully understand the details of the event
which occurred that afternoon, it is necessary that he should know the
nature of the structure, and the height to which, at that time, it had
proceeded; and while we are on the subject, we m