376 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



" The weather must be too much for even the Devil, 

 and he has gone into the deserted Ha' for shelter. No 

 human hand can have waked a light there. None but 

 the Devil would seek shelter in that haunted, murder- 

 stained ruin. Yes, yon must be an illumination of his 

 Satanic majesty's own contriving, for don't you see the 

 flame turns green and serpent- shaped ? " 



" Don't be a fool, Yaspard," said the other roughly. 

 " This is no time for nonsense ; but if you, who are the 

 only one on board that knows the coast, can tell us 

 what to do, do so without delay." 



" If the ship," replied Yaspard, " was not beyond 

 our control I might be able to cheat the Devil of his 

 prey, for I do know every rock on this coast, every 

 light along the Isles, every harbour within hail. But 

 it is of no use. "We can't guide our ship into harbour 

 nmv." 



The mate turned away, and Yaspard, once more left 

 to himself, muttered — 



" Perhaps the Devil has turned wrecker, like old 

 James Gertson, and means to have the credit of our 

 destruction. He might have saved himself the trouble 

 of lighting a false beacon. Our ship will soon be drawn 

 upon the rocks without that. Surly welcome ye give 

 your sons, old Isle ! But we will meet the perils of 

 your coast as Hialtlanders should." 



On drove the ship, and her crew could only stand 

 helplessly waiting for the moment when she would 

 strike. All had been done that human power could 

 do. There was nothing more to be done but to leave 



