SHIPWRECK. 105 



It is then in vain that the watchful keeper trims the 

 lamp, and in vain the inventions of optical science 

 are employed to magnify the light. The dense and 

 blinding mist absorbs the rays, and intercepts the 

 friendly warning. About three years ago, the keeper 

 informed us, a vessel came ashore in a dense fog on 

 the rocks just below the lighthouse. All the crew 

 took to their boat, but were never afterwards heard 

 of, being doubtless swallowed up in the tremendous 

 surf that dashes-in during heavy weather among those 

 rugged rocks. One person alone was saved, a sailor- 

 boy, but a passenger on board this craft. The boat 

 had put off without him ; but the crew, on discover- 

 ing that he was left behind, told him to jump over- 

 board, and they would pick him up. He, however, 

 was afraid to do this, as he could not swim ; prefer- 

 ring to take his chance where he was. 



The poor lad remained on the wreck till morning 

 dawned ; meanwhile, the tide had receded, and had 

 left the vessel high and dry upon the shore. He 

 found he could with ease jump down from the bows 

 upon the rocks below ; whence, with no great diffi- 

 culty, he clambered up the precipice, told his sad 

 tale, and met with hospitality and sympathy. 



After drinking in the wide-spread prospect lying 

 in a vast circle around, looking by turns upon the 

 long range of English and Welsh coast, upon the 

 sea, sleeping and sparkling in the sun's bright rays, 

 and upon the island beneath, whose whole outline the 

 eye could here take in, almost as if it had been laid 



