Upon the fly-leaf was written: "Jane Hume, to her
dear son Jaspar, on his twelfth birthday."
These men of the White Guard were not used to religious practices,
whatever their past had been in that regard, and at any other time they
might have been surprised at this action of their leader. Under some
circumstances it might have lessened their opinion of him; but his
influence over them now was complete. They knew they were getting nearer
to him than they had ever done; even Cloud-in-the-Sky appreciated that.
Hume spoke no word to them, but looked at them and stood up. They all did
the same, Jeff Hyde leaning on the shoulders of Gaspe Toujours. He read
first, four verses of the Thirty-first Psalm, then followed the prayer of
St. Chrysostom, and the beautiful collect which appeals to the Almighty
to mercifully look upon the infirmities of men, and to stretch forth His
hand to keep and defend them in all dangers and necessities. Late
Carscallen, after a long pause, said "Amen," and Jeff said in a whisper
to Gaspe Toujours: "That's to the point. Infirmities and dangers and
necessities is what troubles us."
Immediately after, at a sign from the sub-factor, Cloud-in-the-Sky began
to transfer the burning wood from one fire to the other until only hot
ashes were left where a great blaze had been.
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