danger of being swept off by the violence. of the waves, and hastily fastening the rope round a post which was stuck in the ground he flung one end over the precipice and got down just in time to seize her as she broke from her moorings. He sprang in and began baling out the water, with which she was rapidly filling, and whilst occupied in this way he did not observe that the force of wind and waves was drifting him further and further from the rocky coast. At length the voice of David, who by this time had ascended to a higher platform of the cliff, aroused him to a sense of danger, and he made every effort to return, but in vain. The storm was at its height, and no small boat could struggle safely through such a sea. She was dashed against one of the numerous sunken rocks which surround these dangerous cliffs, and David saw her overwhelmed by a gigantic wave. It passed, but the frail boat was nowhere to be seen. She was engulfed amongst the angry waters, and Andrew Jamieson had gone to meet his God. CHAPTER II. AFTER watching with horror and dismay the death of his friend, without being able to offer the least assistance, David began to realise his own position,-alone on this barren cliff, without the means of escape, or of sending any message to the shore. The water was rapidly rising to the point where he stood, and the billows dashed in showers of spray against the base of the rock. He tried to ascend by the less steep path at the opposite side, which Andrew had used; but that was impossible, for the waves were rolling over the entrance. There was, therefore, nothing for it but to return to his former position, already become dangerous, and think what place. he could find to save his life, even for the present. Just then his eye caught a glimpse of the rope which Andrew in his hurry had flung down the cliff. If securely fastened, he might attempt the ascent even without assistance. Determined to make the venture, he scrambled with some difficulty to a ledge high enough to allow of his grasping the end of the rope; then twisting it several times round his wrist, he began the perilous undertaking. None but an experienced cragsman could have succeeded in such a feat; but the rope was firmly fixed, and up the bare and sheer cliff he climbed in the face of the storm, and at length reached the top in safety. There, after resting for a while, he sought about for some sea-birds' eggs with which to appease his hunger, and seeing, a little way down on the opposite path, a kind of cavern, roofed by a flat ledge of rock, he took advantage of this welcome shelter from the fury of the wind, and lay down to sleep, wondering if he was doomed to pass the rest of his life in this dreary prison of rock. All the day little Alice watched for her father's return: she prepared his dinner at the usual hour, and when he did not appear she supposed he must have visited a second of the Stacks. Then the storm rose; it was violent but short, and she hoped he might have been on the cliff while it lasted: yet she was not easy. Evening came, and the father's supper was prepared; but, like the former meal, after | waiting some hours it was removed untouched. When it became dark the child grew seriously frightened. She went to the cottage of a neighbour in hopes of gaining some information, and met with much sympathy, although her anxiety was not relieved. The woman urged her to remain for the night instead of returning to her lonely home. But Alice would not consent, lest her father should come in and find no one to receive him; and so, after a short visit, she hurried back. VALUE OF TIME. Alas! he has not returned during her MEN of business often quote the maxim absence, and shutting the door she threw She pre A friendly hand to the friendless, Kind words so short to speak, But whose echo is endless. The world is wide, these things are small; that Time is money;' but it is much more: the proper improvement of it is self-culture, self-improvement, and growth in character. An hour wasted daily on trifles, or in indolence, would, if devoted to self-improvement, make an ignorant man wise in a few years; and, employed in good works, it would make his life fruitful, and his death a harvest of worthy deeds. Fifteen minutes a-day devoted to self-improvement will be felt at the end of the year. THE DOVE OF THE ARK. THERE was a lonely ark That sailed the waters dark; Not one tall tree was seen, All-all are drowned! Then a soft wing was spread, A meek dove flew; But on that shoreless tide To cheer her view. There was no chirping sound So to the ark she fled, Fly to His breast. MRS. SIGOURNEY. |