The others spoke to the same purpose.
“I thank ye for ut, and 'tis done like gentlemen,” said Mac. “But there's another thing I have upon my mind. I hope we're all Prodestan's here?”
It appeared they were; it seemed a small thing for the Protestant religion to rejoice in!
“Well, that's as it should be,” continued Mac. “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 seabirds, 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. Only Wicks, smelling a hard day's work ahead, was more alert. He went first to the well, sounded it once and then a second time, and stood awhile with a grim look, so that all could see he was dissatisfied. Then he shook himself, stripped to the buff, clambered on the rail, drew himself up and raised his arms to plunge. The dive was never taken. He stood instead transfixed, his eyes on the horizon.
“Hand up that glass,” he said.