IV GREEN POINT 199 



into the ground. Shan't do it no more. Pity 

 they left off tilling it. Best place round here for 

 growing early taties, it was. Ah ! 'tis too hard 

 work for 'em nowadays. They've a-lef it for the 

 rabbits. . . . Thic poor little rock, cocking his 

 head up there for the gulls to sit on, he's going 

 to topple over, come a few south-easters, some 0' 

 they there ol'-fashioned sort. I reckon Pll see the 

 last o' he. ... Ah! ah! ah! I thought t'would, 

 when they frostises was last winter — Green Point's 

 going. Do 'ee see how 'tis fallen away down 

 underneath? Do 'ee see thic crack up 'bove? 

 An' when Green Point's gone, what's solid rock, 

 'tis the beginning of "Good-bye Steep Head!" 

 Thousands o' tons o't be waiting for to come down 

 t'other side, a crack you could get down into. 

 An' 'tis opening faster 'n' faster. Steep Head '11 

 all be down — all o'it — what's been a landmark to 

 seafaring folk for centuries. Pve a-gathered holly 

 on it afore now. Steep Head holly it always was 

 at Christmas time for them as know'd the way 

 down to it. Fine holly ways It made for the 

 boats, too. Grows sturdy there in the sun and 

 damp, an' southerly gales toughens it. . . . 



'Now steer her in. I got some wood in under 

 there — an' Pll hae thic fencing up 'bove on the 



