344 117/

be thus held I.L'“C[:

A ostrong rope, controlled byoa wineh, s then let down from a projecting cranc half-way up the tower, the lower end being firmly held by one ol the bhoatmen giving it a turn round a wooden pinooat the stern. This satsfactonly accomplished we prepare to land, and to a noviee the process 1s somewhat exciting. T'he prineipal kcqwr leads the way, and this s his method of pro- cedure. Tle first grasps the rope tightly, then puts his foot i a loop attached thercto, and with a “Heave away!” the men at the \ winch steadily wind up the rope \ until the suspended figure s near

posttion while cffecting the

cnough for the man on the sets \ off” to scize him and put him \ on his feet. Presently it 1s my

turin to he hoisted, and with the

hoat tossing about it s difficult ! for a beginner to make a start g \ but I am soon 1m a position to

rcalize the thrilling sensation of hanging on a rop= o midanr, jerking and swaving over the boil- g surfy with the salt spray dashing around. Towever, it s quic over, and we arc "111 safely landed at last, with the exception of (wo \mt(ns, whose courage gives way at the eritical moment, From the “sct-off” the entrance is approached by a Tadder, formed hy a scrics of gun-anctal nmns let into the stonework; and on gaining the summit of this perpendicular chimb of 2oft. 1T watch the men landing the stores, and make a rough s]\( teh of the operation, at the conclusion ol which (after much shouting and gesticulation) those bound for the shore arc slung back into the boat, anchor 1s raised, and the released keepers cive vent to their joyous feelings

by Tustily singing the refram of a cortain

familiar song from which, m this henighted spot, once might reasonably have hoped to

cscape.

After our reeent exertions we make for the kitchen and enjoy a plam substantial meal, followed by a smoke and o chat o then, cscorted by Mr. Tom Cutting (third hght keeper), 1T make a détour of the building. Beginning at the entrance— the most con- spicuous objects are hfe-belts and buovs, coils of repe on the walls, fishing-rods; and a

STRAND

TARING IN

MAGALINT,

home-made Tobster pot: under Toot s the water-tank, capable of holding 3,500 callons the walls are gft. thick at this point, the gunametal doors weigh a ton, massively constructed moorder the shock of heavy seas. Thenee, by a flight of sixteen steep iron steps (similar flight connects cach room), we proceed to the next compartment, where, as well as e that above 1t 1s kept the main- stay of the hlight. In these two oil-rooms the mimeral oil s stored, cach of the huge cisterns being capable of - containing 140 callonsg o quantity which will not be much more than cnough to Tast nine months. The sccond aillroom s also used for storing

Y

andd this to withstand

aun-cotton charges and detonators for working

sound signals in fogoy and rockets for signalling purposces. In the next compartment - the wineh-room

—arc two doors (one direetly over cach land-

weather,

STORES —A SKETCH FROM THIE ENTRANCE,

mg-place) for recciving stores from the hoat by means ol a shding erance working through a porthole over cither door, as well as for I; and embarking weather, DBesides the wineh, there are lockers for coal and Room No. g the store-room con- Lams the erane and o provision cupboard for cach nan - note the string of herrings hanging outside the window.,

Then comes the kitchen or hiving-room, where the small party of three cook and cat therr meals and enjoy their leisure moments