No one of those that formed the group around the pilgrim turned
at this voice, only their heads sank lower on their breasts, and
for a long time these people sat motionless and speechless:
The pilgrim measured his audience with a serious and meditative
glance of his blue eyes, and said softly:
"Ephraim the Syrian said: 'Make thy soul the central point of thy
thoughts and strengthen thyself with thy desire to be free from
sin.
And again he lowered his head, slowly fingering the beads of the
rosary.
"That means we must think," said one of the peasants; "but when
has a man time to think during his life on earth?"
"Confusion is all around us."
"We must flee to the desert," said the peasant who lay on the
bench.
"Not everybody can afford it."
The peasants spoke, and became silent again. A shrill whistle
resounded, a little bell began to jingle at the machine.
Someone's loud exclamation rang out:
"Eh, there! To the water-measuring poles."
"0h Lord! 0h Queen of Heaven!"--a deep sigh was heard.
And a dull, half-choked voice shouted:
"Nine! nine!"
Fragments of the fog burst forth upon the deck and floated over
it like cold, gray smoke.
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