He stopped reading at the verse where it is written, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Then, going down on his knees,—without even the familiar formula, "Let us pray"—he uttered a brief but earnest prayer for guidance and deliverance "in the name of Jesus."
Rising, he quietly put the Bible away, and, with the calmness of a thoroughly practical man, who looks upon religion and ordinary matters as parts of one grand whole, ordered Moses to serve the supper.
Thus they spent part of that memorable night of 26th August 1883 in earnest social intercourse, conversing chiefly and naturally about the character, causes, and philosophy of volcanoes, while Perboewatan and his brethren played a rumbling, illustrative accompaniment to their discourse. The situation was a peculiar one. Even the negro was alive to that fact.
"Ain't it koorious," he remarked solemnly in a moment of confidence after swallowing the last bite of his supper. "Ain't it koorious, Massa Nadgel, dat we're a sottin' here comf'rably enjoyin' our wittles ober de mout' ob a v'licano as is quite fit to blow us all to bits an' hois' us into de bery middle ob next week—if not farder?"
"It is strange indeed, Moses," said Nigel, who however added no commentary, feeling indisposed to pursue the subject.
Seeing this, Moses turned to his master.
"Massa," he said. "You don' want nuffin' more to-night, I s'pose?"
"No, Moses, nothing."
"An' is you quite easy in your mind?"