'"
"You are very good to me," said the priest raising his hands slightly in
the manner of benediction, "and I suggest, since we have a comfortable
place here, that we remain on this little island until to-morrow. Do you
know what day it is?"
"No," replied Paul, "to tell you the truth, Father Montigny, we've been
through so much and we've had to think so hard of other things that we've
lost count of the days. I'd scarcely know how to guess at it."
"It's the Holy Sabbath," said Father Montigny. "You, I have no doubt,
belong to a church other than mine, but the wilderness teaches us that
we're merely traveling by different roads to the same place. We six are
alone upon this little spot of ground in a great river flowing through a
vast desolation. Surely we can be comrades, too, and give thanks together
for the mercy that is taking us through such great dangers and
hardships."
"We're like Noah and his family after the ark landed," whispered Shif'less
Sol to Henry, in a tone that was far from irreverence. But Paul said
aloud:
"I'm sure that we're all in agreement upon that point, Father Montigny. We
do not have to hasten and we'll remain here on the island in a manner
proper to the day."
Father Montigny glanced at the five in turn and the rare, beautiful smile
lighted up his face.
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