234 



place ever looked more bleak and comfortless. 

 At last the path unexpectedly led us to an 

 abrupt precipice, at the bottom of which the 

 sea beat in among the rocks with terrible vio- 

 lence. Indeed I could scarcely bring myself to 

 look down. We found here a flight of steps, 

 four hundred, I believe, which are cut in the 

 rock, and which wind along its face to a sort of 

 platform. We descended very carefully, keep- 

 ing, as you may suppose, close to the rock, for 

 the wind was rather high, the steps narrow, and 

 we were often startled by the flocks of sea-birds 

 that suddenly bounced up from the cliffs. 



From this platform a sort of bridge of ropes 

 extends to the Stack-rock, on which the light- 

 house stands ; the bridge is a hundred feet long ; 

 the sides are of net-work, and a few boards are 

 loosely laid to walk on. It all moves so much, 

 that I could not help feeling a little afraid ; and 

 once the wind having blown my light gown into 

 the openings of the net work, I fancied that the 

 guide, who was walking close behind, was pulling 

 me back; I stopped, and he scolded me for 

 stopping; but my uncle fortunately heard us, 

 and smiling at my nonsense, he explained the 

 cause of my alarm. 



The poor light-house men are looking forward 

 with great satisfaction to a new chain bridge 

 which is preparing for this place. It will not 

 only be more safe and convenient for them in 



