While excavations were under way, the preparation of a landing-stage was taken in hand. As only small blocks of stone could be used, naturally it occupied a considerable time. It was, however, essential, in order to permit the erection of a derrick by which the heavy blocks for the tower could be lifted from the construction boat to the rock. On the rock-face itself the masons toiled strenuously, chipping, scraping, and paring away all the faulty pieces of gneiss, so that a firm, solid foundation was secured, into which the bottom course of stones was dovetailed and anchored. Owing to the frequency with which the rock was swept by the seas, special precautions had to be adopted to insure the safety of the workmen. Iron dogs were driven into the rock at frequent points, to which ropes were fastened and allowed to trail across the rock, each mason being urged to keep one of these life-lines always within arm’s length. As an additional precaution he was compelled to wear a lifebelt, which, although it hampered free movement somewhat, yet gave the wearer, if he lost his foothold or were thrown into the water, a chance of keeping afloat until the lifeboat standing by was able to reach him. A Cornish fisherman, who was familiar with the seas on this part of the coast, and who could judge a breaking wave from a distance, acted as a lookout. When he saw a comber about to creep over the rock, he gave a signal, when the workmen clutched their life-lines, and, with feet firmly planted and the ropes drawn taut, or throwing themselves prostrate, with heads pointed to the advancing wave, allowed the breaker to roll over them and expend its violence harmlessly. Time after time the masons were buried beneath huge tumbling hills of water. Work under such conditions was decidedly irksome, and progress was very appreciably retarded, but the safety of the workmen was, of course, the pre-eminent consideration. Curiously enough, these men who face the perils, privations, and exciting incessant dangers, incidental to lighthouse building, are extremely superstitious. If an undertaking such as the Wolf were attended by a disaster and loss of life in its initial stages, the completion of the task might be seriously jeopardized. The rock would be regarded as a “hoo-doo,” and would be shunned like a fever-stricken city. Therefore the engineer will go to any lengths to secure, so far as is humanly possible, the preservation of the lives and limbs of those in his employ. This is the chief reason why the erection of these wonderful towers has been attended by so few accidents or fatalities, while the men fitted for the task are so few that the engineer cannot afford to disturb their peace of mind.