324 COMMENCEMENT OF THE GALE. [CHAP. vn. 



and in speech rough and ready. Having to encounter daily 

 all sorts of people, and drive hard bargains, their wits, though 

 not refined, are sharpened to a keen edge, and they are more 

 than a match for any " chaff" directed towards them either by 

 purchaser or passer-by. So long, however, as they are civilly 

 and properly treated, they are civil and fair-spoken in return, 

 and can, when occasion serves, both flatter and please in a 

 manner by no means offensive. Altogether, the Scottish 

 fishwife is an honest, out-spoken, good-hearted creature, rough 

 as the occupation she follows, but generally good-natured and 

 what the Scotch call " canty." She does not even want feel- 

 ing, though, it may be, her avocation gives her little oppor- 

 tunity to show it. But who is so often called upon to endure 

 the strongest emotions of fear, suspense, and sorrow, as the 

 fisherman's wife ? Every time the wind blows, and the sea 

 rises, when the boats of her husband or kinsfolk are "out," 

 she knows no peace till they are in safety ; and not seldom has 

 she been doomed to stand on the shore and look at the white 

 foaming sea in which the little boat, containing all she held 

 dear, was battling with the billows, with the problem of its 

 destruction or salvation all unsolved. 



To return to the history of the storm. No less than 

 twenty-seven boats belonging to Buckie had left for the 

 fishing, some of them as early as two o'clock in the morn- 

 ing. Some hours previous to the boats leaving, there were 

 indications of the coming storm. A heavy surf was roll- 

 ing on the coast, but almost unaccompanied by wind, only 

 slight airs now and again coming from the north, but the 

 barometer had fallen considerably during the night. With 

 these indications of bad weather, the men on duty at the 

 Coast Guard station hailed the Portessie men when on their 

 way to join their boats at Buckie harbour, and warned them 

 of the likelihood of a storm overtaking them. Little heed, 

 however, appears to have been given to this warning, and the 



