And God saw the
light, that it was good_--but here it was, and it was not good.
_And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters_--
but there was no firmament. _And God divided the waters . . . and
the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that
it was good_--oh, my God! _And God said, Let the waters under the
heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let dry land appear:
and it was so_--But it wasn't!
"Captain Macnaughten's voice spoke through this misery of mine quite
matter-of-factly and simply, dispersing it like so much morning mist.
"'Signal the other boats to pull close,' he commanded. 'Someone tell
me where the Bible and Prayer-Book were stowed. I saw them handed
down, with my own eyes.' Then to me: 'These things--packed as we
are . . . the sooner over, the better, and the less they'll prey on
anyone's mind.' He looked down. 'Jock would have liked it so, I
reckon.'
"The other two boats were called close. The summons was explained,
and the burial service decently read. 'It don't seem altogether a
lively beginning,' said he to me at the close--and the water was
scarce dry on his cheek that had run down suddenly as he read out
_I heard a voice from heaven, saying_--'But,' he added, 'it'll sober
'em down to what they'll have to face.
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