259

III. The Noises explained 262

IV. Turba Turma 265

V. Gilliatt's Alternatives 267

VI. The Combat 268

BOOK IV.--PITFALLS IN THE WAY

I. He who is Hungry is not Alone 280

II. The Monster 296

III. Another Kind of Sea-combat 297

IV. Nothing is hidden; Nothing lost 299

V. The Fatal Difference between Six Inches and 302
Two Feet

VI. De Profundis ad Altum 306

VII. The Appeal is heard 311

PART III

DERUCHETTE

Book I.--NIGHT AND THE MOON

CHAP. PAGE

I. The Harbour Bell 315

II. The Harbour Bell again 327

Book II.--GRATITUDE AND DESPOTISM

I. Joy surrounded by Tortures 335

II. The Leathern Trunk 343

Book III.--THE DEPARTURE OF THE "CASHMERE"

I. The Havelet near the Church 346

II. Despair confronts Despair 348

III. The Forethought of Self-sacrifice 355

IV. For your Wife: when you Marry 359

V. The Great Tomb 362

TOILERS OF THE SEA

PART I.--SIEUR CLUBIN

BOOK I

THE HISTORY OF A BAD REPUTATION

I

A WORD WRITTEN ON A WHITE PAGE

Christmas Day in the year 182- was somewhat remarkable in the island of
Guernsey. Snow fell on that day. In the Channel Islands a frosty winter
is uncommon, and a fall of snow is an event.

On that Christmas morning, the road which skirts the seashore from St.
Peter's Port to the Vale was clothed in white. From midnight till the
break of day the snow had been falling. Towards nine o'clock, a little
after the rising of the wintry sun, as it was too early yet for the
Church of England folks to go to St. Sampson's, or for the Wesleyans to
repair to Eldad Chapel, the road was almost deserted. Throughout that
portion of the highway which separates the first from th