E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs, Clare Boothby, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) THE ROMANCE OF THE COAST. by JAMES RUNCIMAN. [Illustration] London: George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. Chiswick Press:--C. Whittingham and Co., Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. 1883. To FREDERICK GREENWOOD, THE EDITOR OF THE _James's Gazette._ DEAR SIR, I dedicate this little book to you. When you first gave me the chance of escaping from the unkindly work of political journalism, I used to think that your treatment of efforts which I thought extremely fine, was somewhat heartless. I am glad now that I have passed under your severe discipline, and I am proud to be one of the school of writers whose professional success is due to your help and training. I am, Dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, JAMES RUNCIMAN. CONTENTS. PAGE AN OLD-SCHOOL PILOT 1 AN UGLY CONTRAST 6 THE FISHERWOMAN 11 THE VETERAN 16 THE HEROINE OF A FISHING VILLAGE 22 THE SILENT MEN 27 THE CABIN-BOY 33 THE SQUIRE 40 THE VILLAGE PREACHER 47 THE FISHER'S FRIEND 52 THE COASTGUARD 57 THE SUSPECTED MAN 63 THE RABBIT-CATCHER 68 THE GIANTS 79 THE COLLIER SKIPPER 85 IN THE BAY 90 THE SIBYL 96 A VOLUNTEER LIFE-BRIGADE 102 KEELMEN 107 BLOWN NORTH 113 NORTH-COUNTRY FISHERMEN 118 A LONG CHASE 126 HOB'S TOMMY 131 THE FAILURE 151 MR. CASELY 169 THE ROMANCE OF THE COAST. AN OLD-SCHOOL PILOT.