He contemplated for a moment the waste of water, and added,—
"Now we are going to die."
Then he took the torch from the hands of Ave Maria, and waved it.
A spark broke from it and flew into the night.
Then the doctor cast the torch into the sea.
The torch was extinguished: all light disappeared. Nothing left but the huge, unfathomable shadow. It was like the filling up of the grave.
In the darkness the doctor was heard saying,—
"Let us pray."
All knelt down.
It was no longer on the snow, but in the water, that they knelt.