Considering the isolation of the rock and its wind-swept position, it was built in a very short time. The whole of the year 1834 was devoted to the survey of the rock, close observations of the prevailing meteorological conditions, and the preparation of the design. The succeeding year was confined to the establishment of the workmen’s quarters, the cutting of the annular trench in the rock, and the setting of the masonry course. The erection of the superstructure occupied nearly four years, the work being completed and the light exhibited in 1859, according to the inscription. The tower is 159 feet in height, and the light has a range of eighteen miles. Since the Heaux de Bréhat was conquered so successfully, French lighthouse engineering skill has been manifested actively around the ill-famed Brittany coast, which now is robbed of the greater part of its dangers. Reynaud’s work, however, did not bring complete safety to the waters from which it lifts its imposing form. Four miles off the self-same island is the plateau of Horaine. This is a chain of rocks, the greatest peril of which is that at high-tide nothing whatever of them is seen, and their existence is betrayed only by the agitated and broken waves rushing over them with fearful force. As the tide falls the water becomes more tormented, and is torn into flying foam, until, when it has almost ebbed, these jagged fangs may be seen projecting above the surf. Bearing in mind these terrible characteristics, it is not surprising that time after time vessels which had been driven out of their course by tempestuous weather, or had got lost in a dense fog, blundered into this death-trap and were lost. The French Government was sorely puzzled as to how to overcome this danger. The engineers fought the elements valiantly for forty years in an effort to crown Horaine with a beacon, but time after time they were defeated. Landing on the reef is highly dangerous. The rocks are surrounded by surging, eddying currents, running at anything from six miles upwards per hour, while the slightest ruffle of wind is quite sufficient to stir up the water so as to fling it swirling over the rocks even at lowest tide. Once or twice, when a period of abnormal calm prevailed, the engineers struggled on to the rock and hurriedly built a substantial masonry beacon, but its life was always brief. The first two or three gales which pounded and roared over the chain invariably scattered the handiwork of man in all directions. Then another expedient was attempted. A party landed upon the ridge, drove a hole into the solid rock, and there set a vertical iron girder 4 inches in thickness, trusting that it would hold fast and indicate the reef sufficiently during the day. But its life was short. A gale came along and snapped the post in twain, leaving a twisted, bent stump, some 36 inches long, remaining on the rock. [Illustration: PREPARING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE JUMENT LIGHT.