’Oneisasmallmanandhisbackisbent。Hewearsapriest’scassockandisveryold；hemustbemorethanahundred，Ishouldsay。Heissooldthatthewhiteofhisbeardistakingagreenishtinge，butheisalwayssmiling，andhisfaceisasbrightasanangel’sfromheaven。Thesecondistaller，buthealsoisveryold。
Hewearstattered，peasantcoat。Hisbeardisbroad，andofayellowishgreycolour。Heisastrongman。BeforeIhadtimetohelphim，heturnedmyboatoverasifitwereonlyapail。Hetoo，iskindlyandcheerful。Thethirdistall，andhasabeardaswhiteassnowandreachingtohisknees。Heisstern，withover-hangingeyebrows；andhewearsnothingbutamattiedroundhiswaist。’
’Anddidtheyspeaktoyou？’askedtheBishop。
’Forthemostparttheydideverythinginsilenceandspokebutlittleeventooneanother。Oneofthemwouldjustgiveaglance，andtheotherswouldunderstandhim。Iaskedthetallestwhethertheyhadlivedtherelong。Hefrowned，andmutteredsomethingasifhewereangry；buttheoldestonetookhishandandsmiled，andthenthetallonewasquiet。Theoldestoneonlysaid:“Havemercyuponus，“andsmiled。’
Whilethefishermanwastalking，theshiphaddrawnnearertotheisland。