out his cloak, and tried to wrap me in it, but I ordered him on his
obedience to keep it. However, he held me in his arms all the first
night, and Meon begged his pardon for what he'd said the night
before--about Eddi, running away if he found me on a sandbank, you
remember. '"You are right in half your prophecy," said Eddi. "I have
tucked up my gown, at any rate." (The wind had blown it over his head.)
"Now let us thank God for His mercies."

'"Hum!" said Meon. "If this gale lasts, we stand a very fair chance of
dying of starvation."

'"If it be God's will that we survive, God will provide," said Eddi. "At
least help me to sing to Him." The wind almost whipped the words out of
his mouth, but he braced himself against a rock and sang psalms.

'I'm glad I never concealed my opinion--from myself--that Eddi was
a better man than I. Yet I have worked hard in my time--very hard!
Yes--yess! So the morning and the evening were our second day on that
islet. There was rain-water in the rock-pools, and, as a churchman, I
knew how to fast, but I admit we were hungry. Meon fed our fire chip by
chip to eke it out, and they made me sit over it, the dear fellows, when
I was too weak to object. Meon held me in his arms the second night,
just like a child. My good Eddi was a little out of his senses,
and imagined himself teaching a York choir to sing. Even so, he was
beautifully patient with them.

'I heard Meon whisper, "If this keeps up we shall go to our Gods. I
wonder what Wotan will say to me. He must know I don't believe in him.
On the other hand, I can't do what Ethelwalch finds so easy--curry
favour with your God at the last minute, in the hope of being saved--as
you call it. How do you advise, Bishop?" '"My dear man," I said, "if
that is your honest belief, I take it upon myself to say you had far
better not curry favour with any God. But if it's only your Jutish pride
that holds you back, lift me up, and I'll baptize you even now."

'"Lie still," said Meon. "I could judge better if I were in my own
hall. But to desert one's fathers' Gods--even if one doesn't believe in
them--in the middle of a gale, isn't quite--What would you do yourself?"

'I was lying in his arms, kept alive by the warmth of his big, steady
heart. It did not seem to me the time or the place for subtle arguments,
so I answered, "No, I certainly should not desert my God." I don't see
even now what else I could have said.

'"Thank you. I'll remember th