meanwhile, Mathias; I'll think the matter over later. Now, silence,
perfect silence. Let God take a look at us first."

All stand silent and serious. Only a few have lowered their heads.
Most of the people are looking ahead with wide-open, motionless eyes,
as though they really saw God in the blue of the sky, in the
boundless, radiant, distant surface of the sea. The sea is
approaching with a caressing murmur; high tide has set in.

"My God and the God of all these people! Don't judge us for
praying, not in Latin but in our own language, which our mothers have
taught us. Our God! Save us from all kinds of terrors, from unknown
sea monsters; protect us against storms and hurricanes, against
tempests and gales. Give us calm weather and a kind wind, a clear
sun and peaceful waves. And another thing, O Lord! we ask You; don't
allow the devil, to come close to our bedside when we are asleep. In
our sleep we are defenceless, O Lord! and the devil terrifies us,
tortures us to convulsions, torments us to the very blood of our
heart. And there is another thing, O Lord! Old Rikke, whom You know,
is beginning to extinguish Your light in his eyes and he can make
nets no longer--"

Rikke frequently shakes his head in assent.

"I can't, I can't!"

"Prolong, then, O Lord! Your bright day and bid the night wait. Am
I right, Rikke?"

"Yes."