Judyboxerectedontheflatgrave-stonesofthechurchyard；fromthehutchorproscenium-Iknownotwhattocallit-aneldritch-
lookingpreacherlayingdownthelawinGaelicaboutsomeoneofthenameofPOWL，whomIatlastdivinedtobetheapostletotheGentiles；alargecongregationoftheLewsmenverydevoutlylistening；andontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，someofthetown\'schildren(towhomthewholeaffairwasGreekandHebrew)profanelyplayingtigg。Thesamedescent，thesamecountry，thesamenarrowsectofthesamereligion，andallthesebondsmadeverylargelynugatorybyanaccidentaldifferenceofdialect!
IntothebayofWickstretchedthedarklengthoftheunfinishedbreakwater，initscageofopenstaging；thetravellers(likeframesofchurches)over-plumbingall；andawayattheextremeend，thediverstoilingunseenonthefoundation。Onaplatformoflooseplanks，theassistantsturnedtheirair-mills；astonemightbeswingingbetweenwindandwater；underneaththeswellrangaily；
andfromtimetotime，amaileddragonwithawindow-glasssnoutcamedrippinguptheladder。Youthisablessedseasonafterall；
mystayatWickwasintheyearofVOCESFIDELIUMandtherose-leafroomatBailieBrown\'s；andalreadyIdidnotcaretwostrawsforliteraryglory。Posthumousambitionperhapsrequiresanatmosphereofroses；andthemoreruggedexcitantofWickeastwindshadmadeanotherboyofme。Togodowninthediving-dress，thatwasmyabsorbingfancy；andwiththecountenanceofacertainhandsomescampofadiver，BobBainbyname，Igratifiedthewhim。
Itwasgray，harsh，easterlyweather，theswellranprettyhigh，andoutintheopentherewere\"skipper\'sdaughters，\"whenIfoundmyselfatlastonthediver\'splatform，twentypoundsofleaduponeachfootandmywholepersonswollenwithplyandplyofwoollenunderclothing。Onemoment，thesaltwindwaswhistlingroundmynight-cappedhead；thenext，Iwascrushedalmostdoubleundertheweightofthehelmet。Asthatintolerableburthernwaslaiduponme，Icouldhavefounditinmyheart(onlyforshame\'ssake)tocryofffromthewholeenterprise。Butitwastoolate。Theattendantsbegantoturnthehurdy-gurdy，andtheairtowhistlethroughthetube；someonescrewedinthebarredwindowofthevizor；andIwascutoffinamomentfrommyfellow-men；standingthereintheirmidst，butquitedivorcedfromintercourse:acreaturedeafanddumb，patheticallylookingforthuponthemfromaclimateofhisown。ExceptthatIcouldmoveandfeel，Iwaslikeamanfalleninacatalepsy。Buttimewasscarcegivenmetorealisemyisolation；theweightswerehunguponmybackandbreast，thesignalropewasthrustintomyunresistinghand；andsettingatwenty-poundfootupontheladder，Ibeganponderouslytodescend。
Sometwentyroundsbelowtheplatform，twilightfell。Lookingup，Isawalowgreenheavenmottledwithvanishingbellsofwhite；
lookingaround，exceptfortheweedyspokesandshaftsoftheladder，nothingbutagreengloaming，somewhatopaquebutveryrestfulanddelicious。Thirtyroundslower，IsteppedoffonthePIERRESPERDUESofthefoundation；adumbhelmetedfiguretookmebythehand，andmadeagesture(asIreadit)ofencouragement；
andlookinginatthecreature\'swindow，IbeheldthefaceofBain。
Therewewere，handtohandand(whenitpleasedus)eyetoeye；
andeithermighthavebursthimselfwithshouting，andnotawhispercometohiscompanion\'shearing。Each，inhisownlittleworldofair，stoodincommunicablyseparate。
Bobhadtoldmeerethisalittletale，afiveminutes\'dramaatthebottomofthesea，whichatthatmomentpossiblyshotacrossmymind。Hewasdownwithanother，settlingastoneofthesea-wall。
Theyhaditwelladjusted，Bobgavethesignal，thescissorswereslipped，thestonesethome；anditwastimetoturntosomethingelse。Butstillhiscompanionremainedbowedovertheblocklikeamourneronatomb，oronlyraisedhimselftomakeabsurdcontortionsandmysterioussignsunknowntothevocabularyofthediver。There，then，thesetwostoodforawhile，likethedeadandtheliving；tillthereflashedafortunatethoughtintoBob\'smind，andhestooped，peeredthroughthewindowofthatotherworld，andbeheldthefaceofitsinhabitantwetwithstreamingtears。Ah!
themanwasinpain!AndBob，glancingdownward，sawwhatwasthetrouble:theblockhadbeenloweredonthefootofthatunfortunate-hewascaughtaliveatthebottomoftheseaunderfifteentonsofrock。
Thattwomenshouldhandleastonesoheavy，evenswinginginthescissors，mayappearstrangetotheinexpert。Thesemustbearinmindthegreatdensityofthewaterofthesea，andthesurprisingresultsoftransplantationtothatmedium。Tounderstandalittlewhattheseare，andhowaman\'sweight，sofarfrombeinganencumbrance，istheverygroundofhisagility，wasthechieflessonofmysubmarineexperience。Theknowledgecameuponmebydegrees。AsIbegantogoforwardwiththehandofmyestrangedcompanion，aworldoftumbledstoneswasvisible，pillaredwiththeweedyuprightsofthestaging:overhead，aflatroofofgreen:alittleinfront，thesea-wall，likeanunfinishedrampart。Andpresentlyinourupwardprogress，Bobmotionedmetoleapuponastone；Ilookedtoseeifhewerepossiblyinearnest，andheonlysignedtomethemoreimperiously。Nowtheblockstoodsixfeethigh；itwouldhavebeenquitealeaptomeunencumbered；withthebreastandbackweights，andthetwentypoundsuponeachfoot，andthestaggeringloadofthehelmet，thethingwasoutofreason。I
laughedaloudinmytomb；andtoprovetoBobhowfarhewasastray，Igavealittleimpulsefrommytoes。UpIsoaredlikeabird，mycompanionsoaringatmyside。Ashighastothestone，andthenhigher，Ipursuedmyimpotentandemptyflight。EvenwhenthestrongarmofBobhadcheckedmyshoulders，myheelscontinuedtheirascent；sothatIblewoutsidewayslikeanautumnleaf，andmustbehauledin，handoverhand，assailorshaulintheslackofasail，andproppeduponmyfeetagainlikeanintoxicatedsparrow。
Yetalittlehigheronthefoundation，andwebegantobeaffectedbythebottomoftheswell，runningtherelikeastrongbreezeofwind。OrsoImustsuppose；for，safeinmycushionofair，Iwasconsciousofnoimpact；onlyswayedidlylikeaweed，andwasnowbornehelplesslyabroad，andnowswiftly-andyetwithdream-likegentleness-impelledagainstmyguide。Sodoesachild\'sballoondivagateuponthecurrentsoftheair，andtouch，andslideoffagainfromeveryobstacle。Somusthaveineffectuallyswung，soresentedtheirinefficiency，thoselightcrowdsthatfollowedtheStarofHades，andutteredexiguousvoicesinthelandbeyondCocytus。
Therewassomethingstrangelyexasperating，aswellasstrangelywearying，intheseuncommandedevolutions。Itisbittertoreturntoinfancy，tobesupported，anddirected，andperpetuallysetuponyourfeet，bythehandofsomeoneelse。Theairbesides，asitissuppliedtoyoubythebusymillersontheplatform，closestheeustachiantubesandkeepstheneophyteperpetuallyswallowing，tillhisthroatisgrownsodrythathecanswallownolonger。Andforallthesereasons-althoughIhadafine，dizzy，muddle-headedjoyinmysurroundings，andlonged，andtried，andalwaysfailed，tolayhandsonthefishthatdartedhereandthereaboutme，swiftashumming-birds-yetIfancyIwasratherrelievedthanotherwisewhenBainbroughtmebacktotheladderandsignedtometomount。
Andtherewasonemoreexperiencebeforemeeventhen。Ofasudden，myascendingheadpassedintothetroughofaswell。Outofthegreen，Ishotatonceintoagloryofrosy，almostofsanguinelight-themultitudinousseasincarnadined，theheavenaboveavaultofcrimson。Andthenthegloryfadedintothehard，uglydaylightofaCaithnessautumn，withalowsky，agraysea，andawhistlingwind。
BobBainhadfiveshillingsforhistrouble，andIhaddonewhatI
desired。ItwasoneofthebestthingsIgotfrommyeducationasanengineer:ofwhich，however，asawayoflife，Iwishtospeakwithsympathy。Ittakesamanintotheopenair；itkeepshimhangingaboutharbour-sides，whichistherichestformofidling；
itcarrieshimtowildislands；itgiveshimatasteofthegenialdangersofthesea；itsupplieshimwithdexteritiestoexercise；
itmakesdemandsuponhisingenuity；itwillgofartocurehimofanytaste(ifeverhehadone)forthemiserablelifeofcities。
Andwhenithasdoneso，itcarrieshimbackandshutshiminanoffice!Fromtheroaringskerryandthewetthwartofthetossingboat，hepassestothestoolanddesk；andwithamemoryfullofships，andseas，andperilousheadlands，andtheshiningpharos，hemustapplyhislong-sightedeyestothepettynicetiesofdrawing，ormeasurehisinaccuratemindwithseveralpagesofconsecutivefigures。Heisawiseyouth，tobesure，whocanbalanceonepartofgenuinelifeagainsttwopartsofdrudgerybetweenfourwalls，andforthesakeoftheone，manfullyaccepttheother。
Wickwasscarceaneligibleplaceofstay。Buthowmuchbetteritwastohanginthecoldwinduponthepier，togodownwithBobBainamongtherootsofthestaging，tobealldayinaboatcoilingawetropeandshoutingorders-notalwaysverywise-
thantobewarmanddry，anddull，anddead-alive，inthemostcomfortableoffice。AndWickitselfhadinthosedaysanoteoforiginality。Itmayhavestill，butImisdoubtitmuch。TheoldministerofKeisswouldnotpreach，inthesedegeneratetimes，foranhourandahalfupontheclock。Thegipsiesmustbegonefromtheircavern；whereyoumightsee，fromthemouth，thewomentendingtheirfire，likeMegMerrilies，andthemensleepingofftheircoarsepotations；andwhere，inwintergales，thesurfwouldbeleaguerthemclosely，burstingintheirverydoor。Atravellerto-dayupontheThursocoachwouldscarceobservealittlecloudofsmokeamongthemoorlands，andbetold，quiteopenly，itmarkedaprivatestill。Hewouldnotindeedmakethatjourney，forthereisnownoThursocoach。Andevenifhecould，onelittlethingthathappenedtomecouldneverhappentohim，ornotwiththesametrenchancyofcontrast。
Wehadbeenupontheroadallevening；thecoach-topwascrowdedwithLewsfishersgoinghome，scarceanythingbutGaelichadsoundedinmyears；andourwayhadlainthroughoutoveramoorishcountryverynortherntobehold。Latishatnight，thoughitwasstillbroaddayinoursubarcticlatitude，wecamedownupontheshoresoftheroaringPentlandFirth，thatgraveofmariners；ononehand，thecliffsofDunnetHeadranseaward；infrontwasthelittlebare，whitetownofCastleton，itsstreetsfullofblowingsand；nothingbeyond，buttheNorthIslands，thegreatdeep，andtheperennialice-fieldsofthePole。Andhere，inthelastimaginableplace，theresprangupyoungoutlandishvoicesandachatterofsomeforeignspeech；andIsaw，pursuingthecoachwithitsloadofHebrideanfishers-astheyhadpursuedVETTURINIupthepassesoftheApenninesorperhapsalongthegrottounderVirgil\'stomb-twolittledark-eyed，white-toothedItalianvagabonds，oftwelvetofourteenyearsofage，onewithahurdy-
gurdy，theotherwithacageofwhitemice。Thecoachpassedon，andtheirsmallItalianchatterdiedinthedistance；andIwaslefttomarvelhowtheyhadwanderedintothatcountry，andhowtheyfaredinit，andwhattheythoughtofit，andwhen(ifever)
theyshouldseeagainthesilverwind-breaksrunamongtheolives，andthestone-pinestandguarduponEtruscansepulchres。
UponanyAmerican，thestrangenessofthisincidentissomewhatlost。Forasfarbackashegoesinhisownland，hewillfindsomealiencampingthere；theCornishminer，theFrenchorMexicanhalf-blood，thenegrointheSouth，thesearedeepinthewoodsandfaramongthemountains。Butinanold，cold，andruggedcountrysuchasmine，thedaysofimmigrationarelongatanend；andawayupthere，whichwasatthattimefarbeyondthenorthernmostextremeofrailways，hardupontheshoreofthatill-omenedstraitofwhirlpools，inalandofmoorswherenostrangercame，unlessitshouldbeasportsmantoshootgrouseoranantiquarytodecipherrunes，thepresenceofthesesmallpedestriansstruckthemindasthoughabird-of-paradisehadrisenfromtheheatheroranalbatrosscomefishinginthebayofWick。TheywereasstrangetotheirsurroundingsasmylordlyevangelistortheoldSpanishgrandeeontheFairIsle。
CHAPTERVII-THELANTERN-BEARERS
I
THESEboyscongregatedeveryautumnaboutacertaineasterlyfisher-village，wheretheytastedinahighdegreethegloryofexistence。Theplacewascreatedseeminglyonpurposeforthediversionofyounggentlemen。Astreetortwoofhouses，mostlyredandmanyof，themtiled；anumberoffinetreesclusteredaboutthemanseandthekirkyard，andturningthechiefstreetintoashadyalley；manylittlegardensmorethanusuallybrightwithflowers；netsa-drying，andfisher-wivesscoldinginthebackwardparts；asmelloffish，agenialsmellofseaweed；whiffsofblowingsandatthestreet-corners；shopswithgolf-ballsandbottledlollipops；anothershopwithpennypickwicks(thatremarkablecigar)andtheLONDONJOURNAL，deartomeforitsstartlingpictures，andafewnovels，dearfortheirsuggestivenames:such，aswellasmemoryservesme，weretheingredientsofthetown。These，youaretoconceivepostedonaspitbetweentwosandybays，andsparselyflankedwithvillasenoughfortheboystolodgeinwiththeirsubsidiaryparents，notenough(notyetenough)
tococknifythescene:ahavenintherocksinfront:infrontofthat，afileofgrayislets:totheleft，endlesslinksandsandwreaths，awildernessofhiding-holes，alivewithpoppingrabbitsandsoaringgulls:totheright，arangeofseawardcrags，oneruggedbrowbeyondanother；theruinsofamightyandancientfortressonthebrinkofone；covesbetween-nowcharmedintosunshinequiet，nowwhistlingwithwindandclamorouswithburstingsurges；thedensandshelteredhollowsredolentofthymeandsouthernwood，theairatthecliff\'sedgebriskandcleanandpungentofthesea-infrontofall，theBassRock，tiltedseawardlikeadoubtfulbather，thesurfringingitwithwhite，thesolan-
geesehangingrounditssummitlikeagreatandglitteringsmoke。
Thischoicepieceofseaboardwassacred，besides，tothewrecker；
andtheBass，intheeyeoffancy，stillflewthecoloursofKingJames；andintheearoffancythearchesofTantallonstillrangwithhorse-shoeiron，andechoedtothecommandsofBell-the-Cat。
Therewasnothingtomaryourdays，ifyouwereaboysummeringinthatpart，buttheembarrassmentofpleasure。Youmightgolfifyouwanted；butIseemtohavebeenbetteremployed。YoumightsecreteyourselfintheLady\'sWalk，acertainsunlessdingleofelders，allmossedoverbythedampasgreenasgrass，anddottedhereandtherebythestream-sidewithrooflesswalls，thecoldhomesofanchorites。Tofitthemselvesforlife，andwithaspecialeyetoacquiretheartofsmoking，itwasevencommonfortheboystoharbourthere；andyoumighthaveseenasinglepennypickwick，honestlysharedinlengthswithabluntknife，bestrewtheglenwiththeseapprentices。Again，youmightjoinourfishingparties，wherewesatperchedasthickassolan-geese，acoveyoflittleanglers，boyandgirl，anglingovereachother\'sheads，tothetothemuchentanglementoflinesandlossofpodleysandconsequentshrillrecrimination-shrillasthegeesethemselves。
Indeed，hadthatbeenall，youmighthavedonethisoften；butthoughfishingbeafinepastime，thepodleyisscarcetoberegardedasadaintyforthetable；anditwasapointofhonourthataboyshouldeatallthathehadtaken。Oragain，youmightclimbtheLaw，wherethewhale\'sjawbonestoodlandmarkinthebuzzingwind，andbeholdthefaceofmanycounties，andthesmokeandspiresofmanytowns，andthesailsofdistantships。Youmightbathe，nowintheflawsoffineweather，thatwepatheticallycalloursummer，nowinagaleofwind，withthesandscourgingyourbarehide，yourclothesthrashingabroadfromunderneaththeirguardianstone，thefrothofthegreatbreakerscastingyouheadlongereithaddrownedyourknees。Oryoumightexplorethetidalrocks，aboveallintheebbofsprings，whentheveryrootsofthehillswereforthenoncediscovered；followingmyleaderfromonegrouptoanother，gropinginslipperytangleforthewreckofships，wadinginpoolsaftertheabominablecreaturesofthesea，andeverwithaneyecastbackwardonthemarchoffthetideandthemenacedlineofyourretreat。AndthenyoumightgoCrusoeing，awordthatcoversallextemporeeatingintheopenair:
diggingperhapsahouseunderthemarginofthelinks，kindlingafireofthesea-ware，andcookingapplesthere-iftheyweretrulyapples，forIsometimessupposethemerchantmusthaveplayedusoffwithsomeinferiorandquitelocalfruitcapableofresolving，intheneighbourhoodoffire，intomeresandandsmokeandiodine；
orperhapspushingtoTantallon，youmightlunchonsandwichesandvisionsinthegrassycourt，whilethewindhummedinthecrumblingturrets；orclamberingalongthecoast，eatgeans(theworst，I
mustsuppose，inChristendom)fromanadventurousgeantreethathadtakenrootunderacliff，whereitwasshakenwithanagueofeastwind，andsilveredaftergaleswithsalt，andgrewsoforeignamongitsbleaksurroundingsthattoeatofitsproducewasanadventureinitself。
Therearemingledsomedismalmemorieswithsomanythatwerejoyous。Ofthefisher-wife，forinstance，whohadcutherthroatatCantyBay；andofhowIranwiththeotherchildrentothetopoftheQuadrant，andbeheldaposseofsilentpeopleescortingacart，andonthecart，boundinachair，herthroatbandaged，andthebandageallbloody-horror!-thefisher-wifeherself，whocontinuedthenceforthtohag-ridemythoughts，andevento-day(asIrecallthescene)darkensdaylight。Shewaslodgedinthelittleoldjailinthechiefstreet；butwhetherornoshediedthere，withawiseterroroftheworst，Ineverinquired。Shehadbeentippling；itwasbutadingytragedy；anditseemsstrangeandhardthat，afteralltheseyears，thepoorcrazysinnershouldbestillpilloriedonhercartinthescrap-bookofmymemory。NorshallI
readilyforgetacertainhouseintheQuadrantwhereavisitordied，andadarkoldwomancontinuedtodwellalonewiththedeadbody；norhowthisoldwomanconceivedahatredtomyselfandoneofmycousins，andinthedreadhourofthedusk，aswewereclamberingonthegarden-walls，openedawindowinthathouseofmortalityandcursedusinashrillvoiceandwithamarrowychoiceoflanguage。Itwasapairofverycolourlessurchinsthatfleddownthelanefromthisremarkableexperience!ButIrecallwithamoredoubtfulsentiment，compoundedoutoffearandexultation，thecoilofequinoctialtempests；trumpetingsqualls，scouringflawsofrain；theboatswiththeirreefedlugsailsscuddingfortheharbourmouth，wheredangerlay，foritwashardtomakewhenthewindhadanyeastinit；thewivesclusteredwithblowingshawlsatthepier-head，where(iffatewasagainstthem)theymightseeboatandhusbandandsons-theirwholewealthandtheirwholefamily-
engulfedundertheireyes；and(whatIsawbutonce)atroopofneighboursforcingsuchanunfortunatehomeward，andshesquallingandbattlingintheirmidst，afigurescarcelyhuman，atragicMaenad。
ThesearethingsthatIrecallwithinterest；butwhatmymemorydwellsuponthemost，Ihavebeenallthiswhilewithholding。Itwasasportpeculiartotheplace，andindeedtoaweekorsoofourtwomonths\'holidaythere。Maybeitstillflourishesinitsnativespot；forboysandtheirpastimesareswayedbyperiodicforcesinscrutabletoman；sothattopsandmarblesreappearintheirdueseason，regularlikethesunandmoon；andtheharmlessartofknuckleboneshasseenthefalloftheRomanempireandtheriseoftheUnitedStates。Itmaystillflourishinitsnativespot，butnowhereelse，Iampersuaded；forItriedmyselftointroduceitonTweedside，andwasdefeatedlamentably；itscharmbeingquitelocal，likeacountrywinethatcannotbeexported。
Theidlemannerofitwasthis:-
TowardtheendofSeptember，whenschool-timewasdrawingnearandthenightswerealreadyblack，wewouldbegintosallyfromour-
respectivevillas，eachequippedwithatinbull\'s-eyelantern。
ThethingwassowellknownthatithadwornarutinthecommerceofGreatBritain；andthegrocers，abouttheduetime，begantogarnishtheirwindowswithourparticularbrandofluminary。Weworethembuckledtothewaistuponacricketbelt，andoverthem，suchwastherigourofthegame，abuttonedtop-coat。Theysmellednoisomelyofblisteredtin；theyneverburnedaright，thoughtheywouldalwaysburnourfingers；theirusewasnaught；thepleasureofthemmerelyfanciful；andyetaboywithabull\'s-eyeunderhistop-coataskedfornothingmore。Thefishermenusedlanternsabouttheirboats，anditwasfromthem，Isuppose，thatwehadgotthehint；buttheirswerenotbull\'s-eyes，nordidweeverplayatbeingfishermen。Thepolicecarriedthemattheirbelts，andwehadplainlycopiedtheminthat；yetwedidnotpretendtobepolicemen。Burglars，indeed，wemayhavehadsomehauntingthoughtsof；andwehadcertainlyaneyetopastageswhenlanternsweremorecommon，andtocertainstory-booksinwhichwehadfoundthemtofigureverylargely。Buttakeitforallinall，thepleasureofthethingwassubstantive；andtobeaboywithabull\'s-eyeunderhistop-coatwasgoodenoughforus。