water had not yet sufficiently left it for
commencing the work. This interval, however, did not pass unoccupied.
The first and last of all the principal operations at the Bell Rock were
accompanied by three hearty cheers from all hands, and, on occasions
like the present, the steward of the ship attended, when each man was
regaled with a glass of rum. As the water left the rock about six, some
began to bore the holes for the great bats or holdfasts, for fixing the
beams of the Beacon-house, while the smith was fully attended in laying
out the site of his forge, upon a somewhat sheltered spot of the rock,
which also recommended itself from the vicinity of a pool of water for
tempering his irons. These preliminary steps occupied about an hour, and
as nothing further could be done during this tide towards fixing the
forge, the workmen gratified their curiosity by roaming about the rock,
which they investigated with great eagerness till the tide overflowed
it. Those who had been sick picked dulse (_Fucus palmatus_), which they
ate with much seeming appetite; others were more intent upon collecting
limpets for bait, to enjoy the amusement of fishing when they returned
on board of the vessel. Indeed, none came away empty-handed, as
everything found upon the Bell Rock was considered valuable, being
connected with some interesting association. Several coins and numerous
bits of shipwrecked iron, were picked up, of almost every description;
and, in particular, a marking-iron lettered JAMES--a circumstance of
which it was thought proper to give notice to the public, as it might
lead to the knowledge of some unfortunate shipwreck, perhaps unheard of
till this simple occurrence led to the discovery. When the rock began to
be overflowed, the landing-master arranged the crews of the respective
boats, appointing twelve persons to each. According to a rule which the
writer had laid down to himself, he was always the last person who left
the rock.

In a short time the Bell Rock was laid completely under water, and the
weather being extremely fine, the sea was so smooth that its place could
not be pointed out from the appearance of the surface--a circumstance
which sufficiently demonstrates the dangerous nature of this rock, even
during the day, and in the smoothest and calmest state of the sea.
During the interval between the morning and the evening tides, the
artificers were variously employed in fishing and reading; others were
busy i