Judyboxerectedontheflatgrave-stonesofthechurchyard；fromthehutchorproscenium-Iknownotwhattocallit-aneldritch-
　　lookingpreacherlayingdownthelawinGaelicaboutsomeoneofthenameofPOWL，whomIatlastdivinedtobetheapostletotheGentiles；alargecongregationoftheLewsmenverydevoutlylistening；andontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，someofthetown'schildrentowhomthewholeaffairwasGreekandHebrewprofanelyplayingtigg。Thesamedescent，thesamecountry，thesamenarrowsectofthesamereligion，andallthesebondsmadeverylargelynugatorybyanaccidentaldifferenceofdialect!
　　IntothebayofWickstretchedthedarklengthoftheunfinishedbreakwater，initscageofopenstaging；thetravellerslikeframesofchurchesover-plumbingall；andawayattheextremeend，thediverstoilingunseenonthefoundation。Onaplatformoflooseplanks，theassistantsturnedtheirair-mills；astonemightbeswingingbetweenwindandwater；underneaththeswellrangaily；
　　andfromtimetotime，amaileddragonwithawindow-glasssnoutcamedrippinguptheladder。Youthisablessedseasonafterall；
　　mystayatWickwasintheyearofVOCESFIDELIUMandtherose-leafroomatBailieBrown's；andalreadyIdidnotcaretwostrawsforliteraryglory。Posthumousambitionperhapsrequiresanatmosphereofroses；andthemoreruggedexcitantofWickeastwindshadmadeanotherboyofme。Togodowninthediving-dress，thatwasmyabsorbingfancy；andwiththecountenanceofacertainhandsomescampofadiver，BobBainbyname，Igratifiedthewhim。
　　Itwasgray，harsh，easterlyweather，theswellranprettyhigh，andoutintheopentherewere"skipper'sdaughters，"whenIfoundmyselfatlastonthediver'splatform，twentypoundsofleaduponeachfootandmywholepersonswollenwithplyandplyofwoollenunderclothing。Onemoment，thesaltwindwaswhistlingroundmynight-cappedhead；thenext，Iwascrushedalmostdoubleundertheweightofthehelmet。Asthatintolerableburthernwaslaiduponme，Icouldhavefounditinmyheartonlyforshame'ssaketocryofffromthewholeenterprise。Butitwastoolate。Theattendantsbegantoturnthehurdy-gurdy，andtheairtowhistlethroughthetube；someonescrewedinthebarredwindowofthevizor；andIwascutoffinamomentfrommyfellow-men；standingthereintheirmidst，butquitedivorcedfromintercourse:acreaturedeafanddumb，patheticallylookingforthuponthemfromaclimateofhisown。ExceptthatIcouldmoveandfeel，Iwaslikeamanfalleninacatalepsy。Buttimewasscarcegivenmetorealisemyisolation；theweightswerehunguponmybackandbreast，thesignalropewasthrustintomyunresistinghand；andsettingatwenty-poundfootupontheladder，Ibeganponderouslytodescend。
　　Sometwentyroundsbelowtheplatform，twilightfell。Lookingup，Isawalowgreenheavenmottledwithvanishingbellsofwhite；
　　lookingaround，exceptfortheweedyspokesandshaftsoftheladder，nothingbutagreengloaming，somewhatopaquebutveryrestfulanddelicious。Thirtyroundslower，IsteppedoffonthePIERRESPERDUESofthefoundation；adumbhelmetedfiguretookmebythehand，andmadeagestureasIreaditofencouragement；
　　andlookinginatthecreature'swindow，IbeheldthefaceofBain。
　　Therewewere，handtohandandwhenitpleaseduseyetoeye；
　　andeithermighthavebursthimselfwithshouting，andnotawhispercometohiscompanion'shearing。Each，inhisownlittleworldofair，stoodincommunicablyseparate。
　　Bobhadtoldmeerethisalittletale，afiveminutes'dramaatthebottomofthesea，whichatthatmomentpossiblyshotacrossmymind。Hewasdownwithanother，settlingastoneofthesea-wall。
　　Theyhaditwelladjusted，Bobgavethesignal，thescissorswereslipped，thestonesethome；anditwastimetoturntosomethingelse。Butstillhiscompanionremainedbowedovertheblocklikeamourneronatomb，oronlyraisedhimselftomakeabsurdcontortionsandmysterioussignsunknowntothevocabularyofthediver。There，then，thesetwostoodforawhile，likethedeadandtheliving；tillthereflashedafortunatethoughtintoBob'smind，andhestooped，peeredthroughthewindowofthatotherworld，andbeheldthefaceofitsinhabitantwetwithstreamingtears。Ah!
　　themanwasinpain!AndBob，glancingdownward，sawwhatwasthetrouble:theblockhadbeenloweredonthefootofthatunfortunate-hewascaughtaliveatthebottomoftheseaunderfifteentonsofrock。
　　Thattwomenshouldhandleastonesoheavy，evenswinginginthescissors，mayappearstrangetotheinexpert。Thesemustbearinmindthegreatdensityofthewaterofthesea，andthesurprisingresultsoftransplantationtothatmedium。Tounderstandalittlewhattheseare，andhowaman'sweight，sofarfrombeinganencumbrance，istheverygroundofhisagility，wasthechieflessonofmysubmarineexperience。Theknowledgecameuponmebydegrees。AsIbegantogoforwardwiththehandofmyestrangedcompanion，aworldoftumbledstoneswasvisible，pillaredwiththeweedyuprightsofthestaging:overhead，aflatroofofgreen:alittleinfront，thesea-wall，likeanunfinishedrampart。Andpresentlyinourupwardprogress，Bobmotionedmetoleapuponastone；Ilookedtoseeifhewerepossiblyinearnest，andheonlysignedtomethemoreimperiously。Nowtheblockstoodsixfeethigh；itwouldhavebeenquitealeaptomeunencumbered；withthebreastandbackweights，andthetwentypoundsuponeachfoot，andthestaggeringloadofthehelmet，thethingwasoutofreason。I
　　laughedaloudinmytomb；andtoprovetoBobhowfarhewasastray，Igavealittleimpulsefrommytoes。UpIsoaredlikeabird，mycompanionsoaringatmyside。Ashighastothestone，andthenhigher，Ipursuedmyimpotentandemptyflight。EvenwhenthestrongarmofBobhadcheckedmyshoulders，myheelscontinuedtheirascent；sothatIblewoutsidewayslikeanautumnleaf，andmustbehauledin，handoverhand，assailorshaulintheslackofasail，andproppeduponmyfeetagainlikeanintoxicatedsparrow。
　　Yetalittlehigheronthefoundation，andwebegantobeaffectedbythebottomoftheswell，runningtherelikeastrongbreezeofwind。OrsoImustsuppose；for，safeinmycushionofair，Iwasconsciousofnoimpact；onlyswayedidlylikeaweed，andwasnowbornehelplesslyabroad，andnowswiftly-andyetwithdream-likegentleness-impelledagainstmyguide。Sodoesachild'sballoondivagateuponthecurrentsoftheair，andtouch，andslideoffagainfromeveryobstacle。Somusthaveineffectuallyswung，soresentedtheirinefficiency，thoselightcrowdsthatfollowedtheStarofHades，andutteredexiguousvoicesinthelandbeyondCocytus。
　　Therewassomethingstrangelyexasperating，aswellasstrangelywearying，intheseuncommandedevolutions。Itisbittertoreturntoinfancy，tobesupported，anddirected，andperpetuallysetuponyourfeet，bythehandofsomeoneelse。Theairbesides，asitissuppliedtoyoubythebusymillersontheplatform，closestheeustachiantubesandkeepstheneophyteperpetuallyswallowing，tillhisthroatisgrownsodrythathecanswallownolonger。Andforallthesereasons-althoughIhadafine，dizzy，muddle-headedjoyinmysurroundings，andlonged，andtried，andalwaysfailed，tolayhandsonthefishthatdartedhereandthereaboutme，swiftashumming-birds-yetIfancyIwasratherrelievedthanotherwisewhenBainbroughtmebacktotheladderandsignedtometomount。
　　Andtherewasonemoreexperiencebeforemeeventhen。Ofasudden，myascendingheadpassedintothetroughofaswell。Outofthegreen，Ishotatonceintoagloryofrosy，almostofsanguinelight-themultitudinousseasincarnadined，theheavenaboveavaultofcrimson。Andthenthegloryfadedintothehard，uglydaylightofaCaithnessautumn，withalowsky，agraysea，andawhistlingwind。
　　BobBainhadfiveshillingsforhistrouble，andIhaddonewhatI
　　desired。ItwasoneofthebestthingsIgotfrommyeducationasanengineer:ofwhich，however，asawayoflife，Iwishtospeakwithsympathy。Ittakesamanintotheopenair；itkeepshimhangingaboutharbour-sides，whichistherichestformofidling；
　　itcarrieshimtowildislands；itgiveshimatasteofthegenialdangersofthesea；itsupplieshimwithdexteritiestoexercise；
　　itmakesdemandsuponhisingenuity；itwillgofartocurehimofanytasteifeverhehadoneforthemiserablelifeofcities。
　　Andwhenithasdoneso，itcarrieshimbackandshutshiminanoffice!Fromtheroaringskerryandthewetthwartofthetossingboat，hepassestothestoolanddesk；andwithamemoryfullofships，andseas，andperilousheadlands，andtheshiningpharos，hemustapplyhislong-sightedeyestothepettynicetiesofdrawing，ormeasurehisinaccuratemindwithseveralpagesofconsecutivefigures。Heisawiseyouth，tobesure，whocanbalanceonepartofgenuinelifeagainsttwopartsofdrudgerybetweenfourwalls，andforthesakeoftheone，manfullyaccepttheother。
　　Wickwasscarceaneligibleplaceofstay。Buthowmuchbetteritwastohanginthecoldwinduponthepier，togodownwithBobBainamongtherootsofthestaging，tobealldayinaboatcoilingawetropeandshoutingorders-notalwaysverywise-
　　thantobewarmanddry，anddull，anddead-alive，inthemostcomfortableoffice。AndWickitselfhadinthosedaysanoteoforiginality。Itmayhavestill，butImisdoubtitmuch。TheoldministerofKeisswouldnotpreach，inthesedegeneratetimes，foranhourandahalfupontheclock。Thegipsiesmustbegonefromtheircavern；whereyoumightsee，fromthemouth，thewomentendingtheirfire，likeMegMerrilies，andthemensleepingofftheircoarsepotations；andwhere，inwintergales，thesurfwouldbeleaguerthemclosely，burstingintheirverydoor。Atravellerto-dayupontheThursocoachwouldscarceobservealittlecloudofsmokeamongthemoorlands，andbetold，quiteopenly，itmarkedaprivatestill。Hewouldnotindeedmakethatjourney，forthereisnownoThursocoach。Andevenifhecould，onelittlethingthathappenedtomecouldneverhappentohim，ornotwiththesametrenchancyofcontrast。
　　Wehadbeenupontheroadallevening；thecoach-topwascrowdedwithLewsfishersgoinghome，scarceanythingbutGaelichadsoundedinmyears；andourwayhadlainthroughoutoveramoorishcountryverynortherntobehold。Latishatnight，thoughitwasstillbroaddayinoursubarcticlatitude，wecamedownupontheshoresoftheroaringPentlandFirth，thatgraveofmariners；ononehand，thecliffsofDunnetHeadranseaward；infrontwasthelittlebare，whitetownofCastleton，itsstreetsfullofblowingsand；nothingbeyond，buttheNorthIslands，thegreatdeep，andtheperennialice-fieldsofthePole。Andhere，inthelastimaginableplace，theresprangupyoungoutlandishvoicesandachatterofsomeforeignspeech；andIsaw，pursuingthecoachwithitsloadofHebrideanfishers-astheyhadpursuedVETTURINIupthepassesoftheApenninesorperhapsalongthegrottounderVirgil'stomb-twolittledark-eyed，white-toothedItalianvagabonds，oftwelvetofourteenyearsofage，onewithahurdy-
　　gurdy，theotherwithacageofwhitemice。Thecoachpassedon，andtheirsmallItalianchatterdiedinthedistance；andIwaslefttomarvelhowtheyhadwanderedintothatcountry，andhowtheyfaredinit，andwhattheythoughtofit，andwhenifever
　　theyshouldseeagainthesilverwind-breaksrunamongtheolives，andthestone-pinestandguarduponEtruscansepulchres。
　　UponanyAmerican，thestrangenessofthisincidentissomewhatlost。Forasfarbackashegoesinhisownland，hewillfindsomealiencampingthere；theCornishminer，theFrenchorMexicanhalf-blood，thenegrointheSouth，thesearedeepinthewoodsandfaramongthemountains。Butinanold，cold，andruggedcountrysuchasmine，thedaysofimmigrationarelongatanend；andawayupthere，whichwasatthattimefarbeyondthenorthernmostextremeofrailways，hardupontheshoreofthatill-omenedstraitofwhirlpools，inalandofmoorswherenostrangercame，unlessitshouldbeasportsmantoshootgrouseoranantiquarytodecipherrunes，thepresenceofthesesmallpedestriansstruckthemindasthoughabird-of-paradisehadrisenfromtheheatheroranalbatrosscomefishinginthebayofWick。TheywereasstrangetotheirsurroundingsasmylordlyevangelistortheoldSpanishgrandeeontheFairIsle。
　　CHAPTERVII-THELANTERN-BEARERS
　　I
　　THESEboyscongregatedeveryautumnaboutacertaineasterlyfisher-village，wheretheytastedinahighdegreethegloryofexistence。Theplacewascreatedseeminglyonpurposeforthediversionofyounggentlemen。Astreetortwoofhouses，mostlyredandmanyof，themtiled；anumberoffinetreesclusteredaboutthemanseandthekirkyard，andturningthechiefstreetintoashadyalley；manylittlegardensmorethanusuallybrightwithflowers；netsa-drying，andfisher-wivesscoldinginthebackwardparts；asmelloffish，agenialsmellofseaweed；whiffsofblowingsandatthestreet-corners；shopswithgolf-ballsandbottledlollipops；anothershopwithpennypickwicksthatremarkablecigarandtheLONDONJOURNAL，deartomeforitsstartlingpictures，andafewnovels，dearfortheirsuggestivenames:such，aswellasmemoryservesme，weretheingredientsofthetown。These，youaretoconceivepostedonaspitbetweentwosandybays，andsparselyflankedwithvillasenoughfortheboystolodgeinwiththeirsubsidiaryparents，notenoughnotyetenough
　　tococknifythescene:ahavenintherocksinfront:infrontofthat，afileofgrayislets:totheleft，endlesslinksandsandwreaths，awildernessofhiding-holes，alivewithpoppingrabbitsandsoaringgulls:totheright，arangeofseawardcrags，oneruggedbrowbeyondanother；theruinsofamightyandancientfortressonthebrinkofone；covesbetween-nowcharmedintosunshinequiet，nowwhistlingwithwindandclamorouswithburstingsurges；thedensandshelteredhollowsredolentofthymeandsouthernwood，theairatthecliff'sedgebriskandcleanandpungentofthesea-infrontofall，theBassRock，tiltedseawardlikeadoubtfulbather，thesurfringingitwithwhite，thesolan-
　　geesehangingrounditssummitlikeagreatandglitteringsmoke。
　　Thischoicepieceofseaboardwassacred，besides，tothewrecker；
　　andtheBass，intheeyeoffancy，stillflewthecoloursofKingJames；andintheearoffancythearchesofTantallonstillrangwithhorse-shoeiron，andechoedtothecommandsofBell-the-Cat。
　　Therewasnothingtomaryourdays，ifyouwereaboysummeringinthatpart，buttheembarrassmentofpleasure。Youmightgolfifyouwanted；butIseemtohavebeenbetteremployed。YoumightsecreteyourselfintheLady'sWalk，acertainsunlessdingleofelders，allmossedoverbythedampasgreenasgrass，anddottedhereandtherebythestream-sidewithrooflesswalls，thecoldhomesofanchorites。Tofitthemselvesforlife，andwithaspecialeyetoacquiretheartofsmoking，itwasevencommonfortheboystoharbourthere；andyoumighthaveseenasinglepennypickwick，honestlysharedinlengthswithabluntknife，bestrewtheglenwiththeseapprentices。Again，youmightjoinourfishingparties，wherewesatperchedasthickassolan-geese，acoveyoflittleanglers，boyandgirl，anglingovereachother'sheads，tothetothemuchentanglementoflinesandlossofpodleysandconsequentshrillrecrimination-shrillasthegeesethemselves。
　　Indeed，hadthatbeenall，youmighthavedonethisoften；butthoughfishingbeafinepastime，thepodleyisscarcetoberegardedasadaintyforthetable；anditwasapointofhonourthataboyshouldeatallthathehadtaken。Oragain，youmightclimbtheLaw，wherethewhale'sjawbonestoodlandmarkinthebuzzingwind，andbeholdthefaceofmanycounties，andthesmokeandspiresofmanytowns，andthesailsofdistantships。Youmightbathe，nowintheflawsoffineweather，thatwepatheticallycalloursummer，nowinagaleofwind，withthesandscourgingyourbarehide，yourclothesthrashingabroadfromunderneaththeirguardianstone，thefrothofthegreatbreakerscastingyouheadlongereithaddrownedyourknees。Oryoumightexplorethetidalrocks，aboveallintheebbofsprings，whentheveryrootsofthehillswereforthenoncediscovered；followingmyleaderfromonegrouptoanother，gropinginslipperytangleforthewreckofships，wadinginpoolsaftertheabominablecreaturesofthesea，andeverwithaneyecastbackwardonthemarchoffthetideandthemenacedlineofyourretreat。AndthenyoumightgoCrusoeing，awordthatcoversallextemporeeatingintheopenair:
　　diggingperhapsahouseunderthemarginofthelinks，kindlingafireofthesea-ware，andcookingapplesthere-iftheyweretrulyapples，forIsometimessupposethemerchantmusthaveplayedusoffwithsomeinferiorandquitelocalfruitcapableofresolving，intheneighbourhoodoffire，intomeresandandsmokeandiodine；
　　orperhapspushingtoTantallon，youmightlunchonsandwichesandvisionsinthegrassycourt，whilethewindhummedinthecrumblingturrets；orclamberingalongthecoast，eatgeanstheworst，I
　　mustsuppose，inChristendomfromanadventurousgeantreethathadtakenrootunderacliff，whereitwasshakenwithanagueofeastwind，andsilveredaftergaleswithsalt，andgrewsoforeignamongitsbleaksurroundingsthattoeatofitsproducewasanadventureinitself。
　　Therearemingledsomedismalmemorieswithsomanythatwerejoyous。Ofthefisher-wife，forinstance，whohadcutherthroatatCantyBay；andofhowIranwiththeotherchildrentothetopoftheQuadrant，andbeheldaposseofsilentpeopleescortingacart，andonthecart，boundinachair，herthroatbandaged，andthebandageallbloody-horror!-thefisher-wifeherself，whocontinuedthenceforthtohag-ridemythoughts，andevento-dayasIrecallthescenedarkensdaylight。Shewaslodgedinthelittleoldjailinthechiefstreet；butwhetherornoshediedthere，withawiseterroroftheworst，Ineverinquired。Shehadbeentippling；itwasbutadingytragedy；anditseemsstrangeandhardthat，afteralltheseyears，thepoorcrazysinnershouldbestillpilloriedonhercartinthescrap-bookofmymemory。NorshallI
　　readilyforgetacertainhouseintheQuadrantwhereavisitordied，andadarkoldwomancontinuedtodwellalonewiththedeadbody；norhowthisoldwomanconceivedahatredtomyselfandoneofmycousins，andinthedreadhourofthedusk，aswewereclamberingonthegarden-walls，openedawindowinthathouseofmortalityandcursedusinashrillvoiceandwithamarrowychoiceoflanguage。Itwasapairofverycolourlessurchinsthatfleddownthelanefromthisremarkableexperience!ButIrecallwithamoredoubtfulsentiment，compoundedoutoffearandexultation，thecoilofequinoctialtempests；trumpetingsqualls，scouringflawsofrain；theboatswiththeirreefedlugsailsscuddingfortheharbourmouth，wheredangerlay，foritwashardtomakewhenthewindhadanyeastinit；thewivesclusteredwithblowingshawlsatthepier-head，whereiffatewasagainstthemtheymightseeboatandhusbandandsons-theirwholewealthandtheirwholefamily-
　　engulfedundertheireyes；andwhatIsawbutonceatroopofneighboursforcingsuchanunfortunatehomeward，andshesquallingandbattlingintheirmidst，afigurescarcelyhuman，atragicMaenad。
　　ThesearethingsthatIrecallwithinterest；butwhatmymemorydwellsuponthemost，Ihavebeenallthiswhilewithholding。Itwasasportpeculiartotheplace，andindeedtoaweekorsoofourtwomonths'holidaythere。Maybeitstillflourishesinitsnativespot；forboysandtheirpastimesareswayedbyperiodicforcesinscrutabletoman；sothattopsandmarblesreappearintheirdueseason，regularlikethesunandmoon；andtheharmlessartofknuckleboneshasseenthefalloftheRomanempireandtheriseoftheUnitedStates。Itmaystillflourishinitsnativespot，butnowhereelse，Iampersuaded；forItriedmyselftointroduceitonTweedside，andwasdefeatedlamentably；itscharmbeingquitelocal，likeacountrywinethatcannotbeexported。
　　Theidlemannerofitwasthis:-
　　TowardtheendofSeptember，whenschool-timewasdrawingnearandthenightswerealreadyblack，wewouldbegintosallyfromour-
　　respectivevillas，eachequippedwithatinbull's-eyelantern。
　　ThethingwassowellknownthatithadwornarutinthecommerceofGreatBritain；andthegrocers，abouttheduetime，begantogarnishtheirwindowswithourparticularbrandofluminary。Weworethembuckledtothewaistuponacricketbelt，andoverthem，suchwastherigourofthegame，abuttonedtop-coat。Theysmellednoisomelyofblisteredtin；theyneverburnedaright，thoughtheywouldalwaysburnourfingers；theirusewasnaught；thepleasureofthemmerelyfanciful；andyetaboywithabull's-eyeunderhistop-coataskedfornothingmore。Thefishermenusedlanternsabouttheirboats，anditwasfromthem，Isuppose，thatwehadgotthehint；buttheirswerenotbull's-eyes，nordidweeverplayatbeingfishermen。Thepolicecarriedthemattheirbelts，andwehadplainlycopiedtheminthat；yetwedidnotpretendtobepolicemen。Burglars，indeed，wemayhavehadsomehauntingthoughtsof；andwehadcertainlyaneyetopastageswhenlanternsweremorecommon，andtocertainstory-booksinwhichwehadfoundthemtofigureverylargely。Buttakeitforallinall，thepleasureofthethingwassubstantive；andtobeaboywithabull's-eyeunderhistop-coatwasgoodenoughforus。