"And
why shouldn't we say the Lord's Prayer? There can't be
no hurt in ut."
He had the same quiet, pleading, childlike way with him
as in the morning; and the others accepted his
proposal, and knelt down without a word.
"Knale if ye like!" said he. "I'll stand." And he
covered his eyes.
So the prayer was said to the accompaniment of the surf
and sea-birds, and all rose refreshed and felt
lightened of a load. Up to then, they had cherished
their guilty memories in private, or only referred to
them in the heat of a moment, and fallen immediately
silent. Now they had faced their remorse in company,
and the worst seemed over. Nor was it only that. But
the petition "Forgive us our trespasses," falling in so
apposite after they had themselves forgiven the
immediate author of their miseries, sounded like an
absolution.
Tea was taken on deck in the time of the sunset, and
not long after the five castaways--castaways once more-
-lay down to sleep.
Day dawned windless and hot. Their slumbers had been
too profound to be refreshing, and they woke listless,
and sat up, and stared about them with dull eyes.
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