nine
inches thick in the centre, and one foot seven inches in circumference.
A slated floor is cemented on to the surface of the granite. Another
seventeen steps took us up to the store-room, in which the meat and
bread casks are kept. Ascending a third series of seventeen steps, we
arrived at the living room, the walls of which are two feet six inches
thick. Here is a cooking-range with an oven, a bookcase, tables,
etcetera. A fourth series took us to the bedroom, in which there are
five berths; and by a fifth staircase of seventeen steps we reach the
watch-room, immediately below the lantern; but there is no seat, as the
keeper is not allowed to sit down during his watch. Sixteen more steps
we mounted, making altogether one hundred and twenty-nine, when we
arrived at the lantern. The apparatus is of the first catadioptric
order, lighted by a first-class pressure lamp. By it stands the machine
for striking the fog-bell, which weighs three hundredweight, and sounds
about every two seconds by means of a double clapper. There is also a
flagstaff, by means of which the light-keepers can hoist signals to
passing vessels. The total height of masonry above high-water mark is
one hundred and fifteen feet six inches; and the diameter of the tower
over the outside of the cornice is twenty-one feet. Although not so
lofty, this magnificent lighthouse is a far stronger structure than that
of the Eddystone.

There are four light-keepers belonging to the lighthouse, one--as is
customary--being on shore. They seemed perfectly happy and contented,
liking the regularity of their lives, feeling, as they said, fully as
safe as they would miles inland. They were _very_ glad of a packet of
newspapers and a couple of magazines we gave them, which we obtained at
Milford; and the men begged us to give them another look in, should we
come that way again. This we promised to do if we could.

The weather had hitherto been very fine, and we hoped to have a pleasant
run. We were gliding smoothly on, and had got very nearly half across
Cardigan Bay, when the weather gave signs of changing.

"We shall have a dirty night of it, sir, if I don't mistake," observed
Truck to papa; "if the wind comes from the westward, it will be all we
can do to weather Bardsey Island."

"If we once round it, we shall have a clear run for Caernarvon," said
papa; "and I should be sorry to delay by making for another port."

"If you please sir," answered