The contrast between the scene outside and that inside the Bell Rock Lighthouse at that time was indeed striking.  Outside there was madly raging conflict; inside there were peace, comfort, security:  Ruby, with his arms folded, standing calmly in the doorway; Jamie Dove and Joe Dumsby smoking and fiddling in the snug kitchen; George Forsyth reading (the Pilgrim’s Progress mayhap, or Robinson Crusoe, for both works were in the Bell Rock library) by the bright blaze of the crimson and white lamps, high up in the crystal lantern.

If a magician had divided the tower in two from top to bottom while some ship was staggering past before the gale, he would have presented to the amazed mariners the most astonishing picture of “war without and peace within” that the world ever saw!

CHAPTER XXXI

MIDNIGHT CHAT IN A LANTERN

“I’ll have to borrow another shirt and pair of trousers from you, Dove,” said Ruby with a laugh, as he returned to the kitchen.

“What! been having another swim?” exclaimed the smith.  “Not exactly, but you see I’m fond o’ water.  Come along, lad.”

In a few minutes the clothes were changed, and Ruby was seated beside Forsyth, asking him earnestly about his friends on shore.

“Ah!  Ruby,” said Forsyth, “I thought it would have killed your old mother when she was told of your bein’ caught by them sea-sharks, and taken off to the wars.  You must know I came to see a good deal of your friends, through—­through—­hoot! what’s the name? the fair-haired lass that lives with——­”

“Minnie?” suggested Ruby, who could not but wonder that any man living should forget her name for a moment.

“Ay, Minnie it is.  She used to come to see my wife about some work they wanted her to do, and I was now and again sent up with a message to the cottage, and Captain Ogilvy always invited me in to take a glass out of his old teapot.  Your mother used to ask me ever so many questions about you, an’ what you used to say and do on the rock when this lighthouse was buildin’.  She looked so sad and pale, poor thing; I really thought it would be all up with her, an’ I believe it would, but for Minnie.  It was quite wonderful the way that girl cheered your mother up, by readin’ bits o’ the Bible to her, an’ tellin’ her that God would certainly send you back again.  She looked and spoke always so brightly too.”

“Did she do that?” exclaimed Ruby, with emotion.

Forsyth looked for a moment earnestly at his friend.

“I mean,” continued Ruby, in some confusion, “did she look bright when she spoke of my bein’ away?”

“No lad, it was when she spoke of you comin’ back; but I could see that her good spirits was partly put on to keep up the old woman.”

For a moment or two the friends remained silent.

Suddenly Forsyth kid his hand on the other’s shoulder, and said impressively:  “Ruby Brand, it’s my belief that that girl is rather fond of you.”