ON LIGHTHOUSES. 275 



a foolish frolic, threw a bell into the sea, which 

 the good monks of Arbroath had placed on it, 

 and which tolled, by the action of the waves. 

 Having made some rich captures, the pirate 

 returned homeward, laden with plunder, and 

 stained with crimes. As he approached the 

 rugged coast of Scotland, a furious tempest 

 arose, the sea ran mountains high, the land 

 was obscured by the threatening clouds that 

 burst upon his head, while sea-birds screamed 

 (always a bad omen to sailors, as you know), 

 as the devoted vessel plunged' through the 

 roaring surge. The terrified crew gathered 

 round the pirate, who, with a gloomy look, 

 gazed anxiously towards the shore. In an 

 instant the vessel struck on the hidden rocks, 

 and split into a thousand pieces. As the pirate 

 was sinking to destruction, his ears were stunned 

 with the deep echoes of the bell, which tolled 

 him to his fate. Such is an old tradition of the 

 fourteenth century. 



It would bring my lecture to too great a 

 length if I were to give you an account of the 

 South Stack Lighthouse, near Holy head. I 

 will, however, mention one interesting fact, 

 which I have ascertained from lighthouse-keep- 



