Dracula. Bram Stoker

from that commanding eminence

      watch the wide sweep of sea visible to the north and east, called

      attention to a sudden show of" mares’-tails" high in the sky to

      the north-west. The wind was then blowing from the south-west

      in the mild degree which in barometrical language is ranked

      «No. 2: light breeze.» The coastguard on duty at once made

      report, and one old fisherman, who for more than half a century

      has kept watch on weather* signs from the East Cliff, foretold in

      an emphatic manner the coming of a sudden storm. The ap-

      proach of sunset was so very beautiful, so grand in its masses of

      splendidly-coloured clouds, that there was quite an assemblage

      on the walk along the cliff in the old churchyard to enjoy the

      beauty. Before the sun dipped below the black mass of Kettle-

      ness, standing boldly athwart the western sky, its downward

      way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour

      flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold; with

      here and there masses not large, but of seemingly absolute black-

      ness, in all sorts of shapes, as well outlined as colossal silhouettes.

      The experience was not lost on the painters, and doubtless some

      of the sketches of the «Prelude to the Great Storm» will grace

      the R. A. and R. I. walls in May next. More than one captain

      72 Dracula

      made up his mind then and there that his «cobble» or his

      «mule,» as they term the different classes of boats, would

      remain in the harbour till the storm had passed. The wind fell

      away entirely during the evening, and at midnight there was a

      dead calm, a sultry heat, and that prevailing intensity which, on

      the approach of thunder, affects persons of a sensitive nature.

      There were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coasting

      steamers, which usually «hug» the shore so closely, kept well to

      seaward, and but few fishing-boats were in sight. The only sail

      noticeable was a foreign schooner with all sails set, which was

      seemingly going westwards. The foolhardiness or ignorance of

      her officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained

      in sight, and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in face

      of her danger. Before the night shut down she was seen with sails

      idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of the

      sea,

      «As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.»

      Shortly before ten o’clock the stillness of the air grew quite

      oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a

      sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly

      heard, and the band on the pier, with its li vely French air, was like

      a discord in the great harmony of nature’s silence. A little after

      midnight came a strange sound from over the sea, and high

      overhead the air began to carry a strange, faint, hollow booming.

      Then without warning the tempest broke. With a rapidity

      which, at the time, seemed incredible, and even afterwards is

      impossible to realize, the whole aspect of na. ture at once became

      convulsed. The waves rose in growing fury, each overtopping its

      fellow, till in a very few minutes the lately glassy sea was like a

      roaring and devouring monster. White-crested waves beat madly

      on the level sands and rushed up the shelving cliffs; others broke

      over the piers, and with their spume swept the lanthorns of the

      lighthouses which rise from the end of either pier of Whitby

      Harbour. The wind roared like thunder, and blew with such

      force that it was with difficulty that even strong men kept their

      feet, or clung with grim clasp to the iron stanchions. It was found

      necessary to clear the entire piers from the mass of onlookers,

      or else the fatalities of the night would have been increased

      manifold. To add to the difficulties and dangers of the time,

      masses of sea-fog came drifting inland white, wet clouds, which

      swept by in ghostly fashion, so dank and damp and cold that it

      needed but little effort of imagination to think that the spirits

      Cutting from «The Dailygraph» 7,S

      of those lost at sea were touching their living brethren with the

      clammy hands of death, and many a one shuddered as the wreaths

      of sea-mist swept by. At times the mist cleared, and the sea for

      some distance could be seen in the glare of the lightning, which

      now came thick and fast, followed by such sudden peals of thun-

      der that the whole sky overhead seemed trembling under the

      shock of the footsteps of the storm.

      Some of the scenes thus revealed were of immeasurable

      grandeur and of absorbing interest the sea, running mountains

      high, threw skywards with each wave mighty masses of white

      foam, which the tempest seemed to snatch at and whirl away

      into space; here and there a fishing-boat, with a rag of sail, run-

      ning madly for shelter before the blast; now and again the white

      wings of a storm-tossed sea-bird. On the summit of the East

      Cliff the new searchlight was ready for experiment, but had not

      yet been tried. The officers in charge of it got it into working

      order, and in the pauses of the inrushing mist swept with it the

      surface of the sea. Once or twice its service was most effective, as

      when a fishing-boat, with gunwale under water, rushed into the

      harbour, able, by the guidance of the sheltering light, to avoid

      the danger of dashing against the piers. As each boat achieved

      the safety of the port there was a shout of joy from the mass of

      people on shore, a shout which for a moment seemed to cleave

      the gale and was then swept away in its rush.

      Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away

      a schooner with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which

      had been noticed earlier in the evening. The wind had by this

      time backed to the east, and there was a shudder amongst the

      watchers