they could see him as often as fresh dry fuel was cast upon the flames, sitting as before, with his back against the rock; but his head drooped forward, and he seemed to be asleep, or numbed, perhaps, by the cold and wet. It began to grow very chilly towards morning, and they waited with constantly increasing anxiety for the moment when they should be able to snatch him from his post of danger, dreading lest in his halfunconscious state he might by some incautious movement overbalance himself and fall, and so all their care and labour, all their watching and praying, would be in vain.

Daylight came at last. The flickering light and shade which the fires cast around them were less distinctly marked. There was a streak of grey above the dark clouds which lay along the horizon; the wide expanse of sea became dimly visible, and presently each object near them on the summit of the cliff stood out in dark relief against the sky. Then the trees and undula tions of the ground began to show themselves; the face of the rock reflected here and there the first faint beams of light from the east; and at length the ledge, towards which so many anxious eyes were strained, became distinctly visible. The exact bearings of it were then taken, and the boom, or yard-arm, brought to its place and fixed securely. There was a group of men and women on the beach watching the process and signalling, their upturned faces showing white in the early dawn, though so far off that their features were scarcely distinguishable. Every heart beat quickly, as one of the coastguard, a sailor-like, active fellow, in whom every one present seemed to have confidence, placed himself in the sling, and giving the signal to his mates, disappeared silently and without any disturbance of the soil over the edge of the cliff.

Two or three minutes only had elapsed, not a word had been spoken, not a creature had moved, when a voice was heard calling from below to "haul up steady;" and then, as those

who had charge of the rope walked away with it, the man's face again appeared rising out of the gulf.

"Where's the boy?" was asked by two or three impatient voices simultaneously. They were soon answered. Lying upon the seaman's breast, helpless and to all appearance without life, but bound to him by a turn of the rope, and clasped round by a strong arm under his shoulders, the little hero was drawn up. A low murmur ran through the group of spectators, and then silence again prevailed. Some of the women burst into tears and hid their faces in their aprons, not daring to look upon the two figures suspended over the gulf; others fell upon their knees and prayed. In another minute the rope was drawn in and lowered. Two men caught hold of Tom Howard and carried him up the slope. He was pale, cold, and almost incapable of moving, but he looked round him with wondering eyes and quivering lips, and smiled upon those who crowded together near him, blessing him and asking eagerly whether he was hurt and how he felt. They took him quickly to a carriage which was in waiting, and gave him into the care of Dr. Piercey and the surgeon whom he had brought with him to the spot, well provided with restoratives and comforts, and then the eager group withdrew and turned to the next object of their interest, the man who had ventured over the cliff to rescue him. "I never saw such a sight in my life," the man was saying; never, never, never!"

"How? What? Tell us."

"I thought he was asleep when I came nigh him, for though his eyes were only about half shut, he did not seem to take no notice of me. So as soon as I could steady myself and get a footing and that wasn't easy, for I had to get myself on a swing like before I could reach in-as soon as I could get a footing, I laid my hand gently on him, getting a firm grip of his coat collar though, and spoke to him quite quiet;

"Hullo!' I said. But he did not seem to hear me.

"Hullo!' I cried again. Hullo! my little lad, look up.' "Still he did not take no notice; so I just put my hand under his chin and lifted up his face a bit; and when I looked into it there was a something there so quiet, so solemn, so grand -there, I don't know what to call it!"

He paused, dashed the back of his hand across his eyes, and went on more quietly.

"I thought he was dead, you know; and yet there was a smile upon his lips; and as I looked into his eyes and touched them with my fingers, the eyelids opened wide-bright eyes they were, so full of light, but looking straight away, not seeing me-miles, miles away. I'll tell you what I thought. It was like Stephen, when them as looked on him saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Do you mind reading about that any of you?"

Yes, there were several that minded it well; it was when Stephen looked up to heaven and saw his Saviour, just before he died: one of them said so.

"I know what it is," cried a poor woman, who had been listening with the keenest interest. She turned away, wringing her hands nervously as she spoke, and smiling through her tears. "Ah, yes; I know what it is!"

"Yes," another repeated, looking after her; "she knows; it ain't a month ago as she buried her youngest child, and she told me how he looked up at her out of his little bed just at the last. But this one is come back again out of the pit. Bless the Lord!"

Well, but go on; tell us some more about him.”

"So I spoke to him," the man resumed, "and told him to put his arm round me and hold on tight; and he tried to do it; but his right hand was clasped in this fashion, and he never offered for to open it. 'Lay hold of me,' I says again; for I wanted to swing off, and I thought it would give him courage