And through the spray which
the wind tore from the tops of the waves and scattered before it like dust,
they saw, perhaps a hundred yards or so from the boat, something standing
up from the surface of the water. It seemed to move towards them. It was a
shape like a man. They all cried out with fear, as was natural, for they
thought it must be a ghost."
How the faces of the sailors strained towards me at this part of the story!
I was afraid one of them especially was on the point of getting up to
speak, as we have heard of sailors doing in church. I went on.
"But then, over the noise of the wind and the waters came the voice they
knew so well. It said, 'Be of good cheer: it is I. Be not afraid.' I should
think, between wonder and gladness, they hardly knew for some moments where
they were or what they were about. Peter was the first to recover himself
apparently. In the first flush of his delight he felt strong and full of
courage. 'Lord, if it be thou,' he said, 'bid me come unto thee on the
water.' Jesus just said, 'Come;' and Peter unshipped his oar, and scrambled
over the gunwale on to the sea. But when he let go his hold of the boat,
and began to look about him, and saw how the wind was tearing the water,
and how it tossed and raved between him and Jesus, he began to be afraid.
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