326 ANXIETY OF THOSE ON SHORE. [CHAP. vn. 



now from the east, and again from the north, came in terrific 

 gusts, and the whole bay at Buckie boiled and moaned as it 

 had been seldom known to do before. 



Long before the storm was at its height, the wives and 

 sweethearts of those at sea had become alarmed for their 

 safety ; they could well remember the desolation that a simi- 

 lar tempest, which occurred on the 16th August 1848, caused 

 in their households. They left their homes to wander along 

 the sea-beach, and peer through the storm for any sign of 

 the approach of the boats containing their relatives. A huge 

 fire was kindled on the top of the braes in the hope that its 

 glare might attract those at sea, and beacon them to a safe 

 shore. During the early part of the night the suspense and 

 fear of the whole inhabitants of Buckie were extreme, and 

 while this anxiety was being endured the boats that had first 

 left the fishing-ground were nearing the land. Some of the 

 boats for a considerable time were allowed to run before the 

 wind, the crews not knowing whither they went, as they were 

 not within sight of lights. When at length they got within 

 sight of the lights very great caution had to be exercised, and 

 a little confusion was occasioned by the unusual number of 

 fires exhibited. Shortly after eleven o'clock a boat was seen 

 approaching Buckie harbour, and getting a favourable oppor- 

 tunity of crossing the bar, it entered the harbour in safety. 

 Two other boats followed, but these had much greater diffi- 

 culty in gaining the port. The tide was at its height about 

 two o'clock A.M., when a fourth boat approached. At the 

 entrance to the harbour she shipped a sea, and it was thought 

 by all on the shore that she had been upset. The same wave, 

 however, carried the boat a considerable distance into the 

 harbour, and as she continued in an upright position she was 

 soon pulled to the beach, and her crew landed in safety. 

 When the tide was fully in, it stood about twenty feet above 

 its ordinary point, the waves breaking almost on the founda- 



