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he boat to leave the rock； still kept at a distance。 At this critical moment the author was standing upon an elevated part of Smith's Ledge； where he endeavoured to mark the progress of the SMEATON； not a little surprised that her crew did not cut the praam adrift； which greatly retarded her way； and amazed that some effort was not making to bring at least the boat； and attempt our relief。 The workmen looked steadfastly upon the writer； and turned occasionally towards the vessel； still far to leeward。 （1） All this passed in the most perfect silence； and the melancholy solemnity of the group made an impression never to be effaced from his mind。
（1） ‘Nothing was said； but I was LOOKED OUT OF COUNTENANCE；' he says in a letter。
The writer had all along been considering of various schemes … providing the men could be kept under command … which might be put in practice for the general safety； in hopes that the SMEATON might be able to pick up the boats to leeward； when they were obliged to leave the rock。 He was； accordingly； about to address the artificers on the perilous nature of their circumstances； and to propose that all hands should unstrip their upper clothing when the higher parts of the rock were laid under water； that the seamen should remove every unnecessary weight and encumbrance from the boats； that a specified number of men should go into each boat； and that the remainder should hang by the gunwales； while the boats were to be rowed gently towards the SMEATON； as the course to the PHAROS； or floating light； lay rather to windward of the rock。 But when he attempted to speak his mouth was so parched that his tongue refused utterance； and he now learned by experience that the saliva is as necessary as the tongue itself for speech。 He turned to one of the pools on the rock and lapped a little water； which produced immediate relief。 But what was his happiness； when on rising from this unpleasant beverage； some one called out； ‘A boat！ a boat！' and； on looking around； at no great distance； a large boat was seen through the haze making towards the rock。 This at once enlivened and rejoiced every heart。 The timeous visitor proved to be James Spink； the Bell Rock pilot； who had come express from Arbroath with letters。 Spink had for some time seen the SMEATON； and had even supposed； from the state of the weather； that all hands were on board of her till he approached more nearly and observed people upon the rock； but not supposing that the assistance of his boat was necessary to carry the artificers off the rock； he anchored on the lee…side and began to fish； waiting； as usual； till the letters were sent for； as the pilot…boat was too large and unwieldy for approaching the rock when there was any roughness or run of the sea at the entrance of the landing creeks。
Upon this fortunate change of circumstances； sixteen of the artificers were sent； at two trips； in one of the boats； with instructions for Spink to proceed with them to the floating light。 This being accomplished； the remaining sixteen followed in the two boats belonging to the service of the rock。 Every one felt the most perfect happiness at leaving the Bell Rock this morning； though a very hard and even dangerous passage to the floating light still awaited us； as the wind by this time had increased to a pretty hard gale； accompanied with a considerable swell of sea。 Every one was as completely drenched in water as if he had been dragged astern of the boats。 The writer； in particular； being at the helm； found； on getting on board； that his face and ears were completely coated with a thin film of salt from the sea spray； which broke constantly over the bows of the boat。 After much baling of water and severe work at the oars； the three boats reached the floating light； where some new difficulties occurred in getting on board in safety； owing partly to the exhausted state of the men； and partly to the violent rolling of the vessel。
As the tide flowed； it was expected that the SMEATON would have got to windward； but； seeing that all was safe； after tacking for several hours and making little progress； she bore away for Arbroath； with the praam…boat。 As there was now too much wind for the pilot…boat to return to Arbroath； she was made fast astern of the floating light； and the crew remained on board till next day； when the weather moderated。 There can be very little doubt that the appearance of James Spink with his boat on this critical occasion was the means of preventing the loss of lives at the rock this morning。 When these circumstances； some years afterwards； came to the knowledge of the Board； a small pension was ordered to our faithful pilot； then in his seventieth year； and he still continues to wear the uniform clothes and badge of the Lighthouse service。 Spink is a remarkably strong man； whose TOUT ENSEMBLE is highly characteristic of a North…country fisherman。 He usually dresses in a PE…JACKET； cut after a particular fashion； and wears a large； flat； blue bonnet。 A striking likeness of Spink in his pilot…dress； with the badge or insignia on his left arm which is characteristic of the boatmen in the service of the Northern Lights； has been taken by Howe； and is in the writer's possession。
＇Thursday； 3rd Sept。＇
The bell rung this morning at five o'clock； but the writer must acknowledge； from the circumstances of yesterday； that its sound was extremely unwelcome。 This appears also to have been the feelings of the artificers； for when they came to be mustered； out of twenty…six； only eight； besides the foreman and seamen； appeared upon deck to accompany the writer to the rock。 Such are the baneful effects of anything like misfortune or accident connected with a work of this description。 The use of argument to persuade the men to embark in cases of this kind would have been out of place； as it is not only discomfort； or even the risk of the loss of a limb； but life itself that becomes the question。 The boats； notwithstanding the thinness of our ranks； left the vessel at half…past five。 The rough weather of yesterday having proved but a summer's gale； the wind came to…day in gentle breezes； yet； the atmosphere being cloudy； it a not a very favourable appearance。 The boats reached the rock at six a。m。； and the eight artificers who landed were employed in clearing out the bat…holes for the beacon…house； and had a very prosperous tide of four hours' work； being the longest yet experienced by half an hour。
The boats left the rock again at ten o'clock； and the weather having cleared up as we drew near the vessel； the eighteen artificers who had remained on board were observed upon deck； but as the boats approached they sought their way below； being quite ashamed of their conduct。 This was the only instance of refusal to go to the rock which occurred during the whole progress of the work； excepting that of the four men who declined working upon Sunday； a case which the writer did not conceive to be at all analogous to the present。 It may here be mentioned； much to the credit of these four men； that they stood foremost in embarking for the rock this morning。
＇Saturday； 5th Sept。＇
It was fortunate that a landing was not attempted