ly.

"No, 'e's hoff," observed Joe.

"Hm! he never was on," muttered Watt.

"What are you two growling at?" said Ruby, who sat on one of the
beams at the other side.

"At our luck, Ruby," said Joe. "Ha! was that a nibble?" ("Naethin' o'
the kind," from Watt.) "It was! as I live it's large; an 'addock, I
think."

"A naddock!" sneered Watt; "mair like a bit o' tangle than----eh!
losh me! it _is_ a fish----"

"Well done, Joe!" cried Bremner, from the doorway above, as a large
rock-cod was drawn to the surface of the water.

"Stay, it's too large to pull up with the line. I'll run down and
gaff it," cried Ruby, fastening his own line to the beam, and
descending to the water by the usual ladder, on one of the main
beams. "Now, draw him this way--gently, not too roughly--take time.
Ah! that was a miss--he's off; no! Again; now then----"

Another moment, and a goodly cod of about ten pounds weight was
wriggling on the iron hook which Ruby handed up to Dumsby, who
mounted with his prize in triumph to the kitchen.

From that moment the fish began to "take".

While the men were thus busily engaged, a boat was rowing about in
the fog, vainly endeavouring to find the rock.

It was the boat of two fast friends, Jock Swankie and Davy Spink.

These worthies were in a rather exhausted condition, having been
rowing almost incessantly from daybreak.

"I tell 'ee what it is," said Swankie; "I'll be hanged if I poo
another stroke."

He threw his oar into the boat, and looked sulky.

"It's my belief," said his companion, "that we ought to be near aboot
Denmark be this time."

"Denmark or Rooshia, it's a' ane to me," rejoined Swankie; "I'll hae
a smoke."

So saying, he pulled out his pipe and tobacco box, and began to cut
the tobacco. Davy did the same.

Suddenly both men paused, for they heard a sound. Each looked
enquiringly at the other, and then both gazed into the thick fog.

"Is that a ship?" said Davy Spink.

They seized their oars hastily.

"The beacon, as I'm a leevin' sinner!" exclaimed Swankie.

If Spink had not backed his oar at that moment, there is some
probability that Swankie would have been a dead, instead of a living,
sinner in a few minutes, for they had almost run upon the north-east
end of the Bell Rock, and distinctly heard the sound of voices on
the beacon. A shout settled the question at once, for it was replied
to by a loud holloa from Ruby.

In a short time the boat was close to the b