(_putting his hands up to his forehead, with his elbows on
the table_.) What can I do, Barnstaple? If I trust to briefs, my
existence will be but brief--we all must live.

_Barnstaple_. I will not reply as Richelieu did to a brother author,
"Je ne vois pas la necessite;" but this I do say, that if you are in
future to live by supplying the public with such nonsense, the shorter
your existence the better.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

THE LEGEND OF THE BELL ROCK.

There was a grand procession through the streets of the two towns of
Perth and Dundee. The holy abbots, in their robes, walked under gilded
canopies, the monks chanted, the censers were thrown, flags and banners
were carried by seamen, lighted tapers by penitents; Saint Antonio, the
patron of those who trust to the stormy ocean, was carried in all pomp
through the streets; and, as the procession passed, coins of various
value were thrown down by those who watched it from the windows, and, as
fast as thrown were collected by little boys dressed as angels, and
holding silver vessels to receive the largesses. During the whole day
did the procession continue, and large was the treasure collected in the
two towns. Every one gave freely, for there were few, indeed none, who,
if not in their own circle, at least among their acquaintances, had to
deplore the loss of some one dear to them, or to those they visited,
from the dangerous rock which lay in the very track of all the vessels
entering the Firth of Tay.

These processions had been arranged, that a sufficient sum of money
might be collected to enable them to put in execution a plan proposed by
an adventurous and bold young seaman, in a council held for the purpose,
of fixing a bell on the rock, which could be so arranged that the
slightest breath of wind would cause the hammer of it to sound, and
thus, by its tolling, warn the mariner of his danger; and the sums given
were more than sufficient. A meeting was then held, and it was
unanimously agreed that Andrew M'Clise should be charged with the
commission to go over to Amsterdam, and purchase the bell of a merchant
residing there, whom Andrew stated to have one in his possession, which,
from its fine tone and size, was exactly calculated for the purport to
which it was to be appropriated.

Andrew M'Clise embarked with the money, and made a prosperous voyage.
He had often been at Amsterdam, and had lived with the merchant, whose
name was Vandermaclin; and th