"
And Foma felt that that man was addressing the Lord with the most
profound and firm faith in His mercy.
"0h Lord, God of our fathers, who hadst commanded Noah, Thy
servant, to build an ark for the preservation of the world," said
the priest in his deep bass voice, lifting his eyes and
outstretching his hands skyward, "protect also this vessel and
give unto it a guarding angel of good and peace. Guard those that
will sail upon it."
The merchants in unison made the sign of the cross, with wide
swings of their arms, and all their faces bore the expression of
one sentiment--faith in the power of prayer. All these pictures
took root in Foma's memory and awakened in him perplexity as to
these people, who, being able to believe firmly in the mercy of
God, were, nevertheless, so cruel unto man. He watched them
persistently, wishing to detect their fraud, to convince himself
of their falsehood.
Their grave firmness angered him, their unanimous self-
confidence, their triumphant faces, their loud voices, their
laughter. They were already seated by the tables, covered with
luncheon, and were hungrily admiring the huge sturgeon, almost
three yards in length, nicely sprinkled over with greens and
large crabs.
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