great mind invented the "donkey." This
contrivance is simply a stool with _one_ leg. The top of the stool is
not round, but oblong, and very small. A hole in the centre receives
the solitary leg, which is attached to it by a piece of cord, and can be
pulled out when occasion requires, and the machine thrown over the arm
as one would throw a cloak or scarf. The beauty of the donkey is, that
it forms an excellent seat on which a man can balance himself and rest
with great comfort as long as he keeps awake; but should he fall asleep,
even for one instant, he infallibly comes to the ground with a shock so
severe that he is quite certain to remain wakeful during the remainder
of his vigil!

"What, ho! Coleman," cried Bax, as he and his friends drew near, "have
you actually acquired the art of sleeping on a donkey?"

Coleman rose and turned round with a good-humoured smile on his ruddy
visage:

"Nay, not quite that," said he, "but the hiss of the waves is apt to
dull the hearin' a bit, an' one don't naturally look for enemies from
land'ard, d'ye see?"

"Mayhap not," said Bluenose, taking a fresh quid of tobacco out of a
brass box which he carried at all times in his waistcoat pocket; "but I
expect an enemy from seaward to-night who'll be oncommon glad to make
your acquaintance, no doubt!"

Here the Captain chuckled, engulfed his fresh quid, and proceeded to
explain the nature of their errand. Having done so, he asked Coleman
what he thought of it.

The worthy coast-guard-man scratched his nose and stared at the shingle
for some minutes before venturing to reply.

"I think," said he at length, "that we'll cook his goose to-night;
that's wot it is."

Coleman paused, and looked thoughtfully at Bluenose. The Captain nodded
his head pleasantly, but said nothing, and Coleman proceeded:--

"He'll come in with the flood-tide no doubt, if the gale don't drive him
in sooner, an' run ashore as near to the cave as possible; but he'll be
scared away if he sees anything like unusual watchin' on the shore, so
you'd better get out o' sight as fast as ye can, and keep there."

"Don't you think it would be as well that you also should keep out of
sight, and so leave the coast clear for him?" suggested Bax.

"Not so," said Coleman with a grin, "he'd see that I'd done it for an
object. Long Orrick keeps his weather eye too wide open to be caught so
easy as that comes to."

"Well, but come up for half-an-hour, and have a g