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〃Should Alexander Liston and I be drowned；〃 said he； coolly； 〃when our
bones come ashore； you will not know which are the fisherman's and which
the viscount's。〃 So saying； he joined the enterprise。
〃I shall pray for ye； lad；〃 said Christie Johnstone； and she retired for
that purpose。
Saunders； with a heavy heart； to the nearest tavern； to prepare an
account of what he called 〃Heroism in High Life；〃 large letters； and the
usual signs of great astonishment！！！！！ for the _Polytechnic Magazine。_
The commander of the distressed vessel had been penny…wise。 He had
declined a pilot off the Isle of May； trusting to fall in with one close
to the port of Leith； but a heavy gale and fog had come on； he knew
himself in the vicinity of dangerous rocks； and； to make matters worse；
his ship； old and sore battered by a long and stormy voyage； was leaky；
and unless a pilot came alongside； his fate would be； either to founder；
or run upon the rocks； where he must expect to go to pieces in a quarter
of an hour。
The Newhaven boat lay in comparatively smooth water； on the lee side of
the pier。
Our adventurers got into her； stepped the mast； set a small sail； and ran
out！ Sandy Liston held the sheet； passed once round the belaying…pin； and
whenever a larger wave than usual came at them； he slacked the sheet； and
the boat； losing her way； rose gently； like a cork； upon seas that had
seemed about to swallow her。
But seen from the shore it was enough to make the most experienced wince；
so completely was this wooden shell lost to sight； as she descended from
a wave； that each time her reappearance seemed a return from the dead。
The weather was mistythe boat was soon lost sight of； the story remains
ashore。
CHAPTER XIV。
IT was an hour later； the natives of the New Town had left the pier； and
were about their own doors； when three Buckhaven fishermen came slowly up
from the pier； these men had arrived in one of their large fishing…boats；
which defy all weather。
The men came slowly up； their petticoat trousers were drenched； and their
neck…handkerchiefs and hair were wet with spray。
At the foot of the New Town they stood still and whispered to each other。
There was something about these men that drew the eye of Newhaven upon
them。
In the first place a Buckhaven man rarely communicates with natives of
Newhaven； except at the pier； where he brings in his cod and ling from
the deep sea； flings them out like stones； and sells them to the
fishwives； then up sail and away for Fifeshire。
But these men evidently came ashore to speak to some one in the town。
They whispered together； something appeared to be proposed and demurred
to； but at last two went slowly back toward the pier； and the eldest
remained； with a fisherman's long mackintosh coat in his hand which the
others had given him as they left him。
With this in his hand； the Buckhaven fisherman stood in an irresolute
posture； he looked down； and seemed to ask himself what course he should
take。
〃What's wrang？〃 said Jean Carnie； who； with her neighbors； had observed
the men； 〃I wish yon man may na hae ill news。〃
〃What ill news wad he hae？〃 replied another。
〃Are ony freends of Liston Carnie here？〃 said the fisherman。
〃The wife's awa' to Granton； Beeny Liston they ca' herthere's his
house；〃 added Jean； pointing up the row。
〃Ay；〃 said the fisherman； 〃I ken he lived there。〃
〃Lived there！〃 cried Christie Johnstone。 〃Oh； what's this？〃
〃Freends；〃 said the man； gravely； 〃his boat is driving keel uppermost in
Kircauldy Bay。 We passed her near enough to read the name upon her。〃
〃But the men will have won to shore； please God？〃
The fisherman shook his head。
〃She'll hae coupit a mile wast Inch Keith； an' the tide rinning aff the
island an' a heavy sea gaun。 This is a' Newhaven we'll see of them
_（holding up the coat）_ 〃till they rise to the top in three weeks' time。〃
The man then took the coat； which was now seen to be drenched with water；
and hung it up on a line not very far from its unfortunate owner's house。
Then； in the same grave and subdued tone in which he had spoken all
along； he said； 〃We are sorry to bring siccan a tale into your toon；〃 and
slowly moved off to rejoin his comrades； who had waited for him at no
great distance。 They then passed through the Old Town； and in five
minutes the calamity was known to the whole place。
After the first stupor； the people in the New Town collected into knots；
and lamented their hazardous calling； and feared for the lives of those
that had just put to sea in this fatal gale for the rescue of strangers；
and the older ones failed not to match this present sorrow with others
within their recollection。
In the middle of this； Flucker Johnstone came hastily in from the Old
Town and told them he had seen the wife； Beeny Liston； coming through
from Granton。
The sympathy of all was instantly turned in this direction。
〃She would hear the news。〃
〃It would fall on her like a thunderclap。〃
〃What would become of her？〃
Every eye was strained toward the Old Town； and soon the poor woman was
seen about to emerge from it； but she was walking in her usual way； and
they felt she could not carry her person so if she knew。
At the last house she was seen to stop and speak to a fisherman and his
wife that stood at their own door。
〃They are telling her；〃 was then the cry。
Beeny Liston then proceeded on her way。
Every eye was strained。
No！ they had not told her。
She came gayly on； the unconscious object of every eye and every heart。
The hands of this people were hard； and their tongues rude； but they
shrunk from telling this poor woman of her bereavementthey thought it
kinder she should know it under her own roof； from her friends or
neighbors； than from comparative strangers。
She drew near her own door。
And now a knot collected round Christie Johnstone； and urged her to
undertake the sad task。
〃You that speak sa learned； Christie； ye should tell her； we daur na。〃
〃How can I tell her？〃 said Christie； turning pale。 〃How will I tell her？
I'se try。〃
She took one trembling step to meet the woman。
Beeny's eye fell upon her。
〃Ay！ here's the Queen o' Newhaven；〃 cried she； in a loud and rather
coarse voice。 〃The men will hae ta leave the place now y' are turned
fisherman； I daur say。〃
〃Oh； dinna fieicht on me！ dinna fieicht on me！〃 cried Christie；
trembling。
〃Maircy on us；〃 said the other； 〃auld Flucker Johnstone's dochter turned
humble。 What next？〃
〃I'm vexed for speaking back till ye the morn；〃 faltered Christie。
〃Hett；〃 said the woman carelessly； 〃let yon flea stick i' the wa'。 I
fancy I began on ye。 Aweel； Cirsty；〃 said she； falling into a friendlier
tone； 〃it's the place we live in spoils usNewhaven's an impudent toon；
as sure as deeth。
〃I passed through the Auld Toon the nooa place I never speak in； an' if
they did na glower at me as I had been a strange beast。
〃They cam' to their very doors to glower at me； if ye'll believe me； I
thoucht shame。
〃At the hinder end my paassion got up； and I faced a wife East…by； and I
said； 'What gars ye glower at me that way； ye ignoran