AndashesatintheboatandwasrowedtotheshiphecouldhearthethreevoicesofthehermitsloudlyrepeatingtheLord’sprayer。Astheboatdrewnearthevesseltheirvoicescouldnolongerbeheard，buttheycouldstillbeseeninthemoonlight，standingashehadleftthemontheshore，theshortestinthemiddle，thetallestontheright，themiddleoneontheleft。AssoonastheBishophadreachedthevesselandgotonboard，theanchorwasweighedandthesailsunfurled。Thewindfilledthem，andtheshipsailedaway，andtheBishoptookaseatinthesternandwatchedtheislandtheyhadleft。Foratimehecouldstillseethehermits，butpresentlytheydisappearedfromsight，thoughtheislandwasstillvisible。Atlastittoovanished，andonlytheseawastobeseen，ripplinginthemoonlight。
Thepilgrimslaydowntosleep，andallwasquietondeck。TheBishopdidnotwishtosleep，butsataloneatthestern，gazingattheseawheretheislandwasnolongervisible，andthinkingofthegoodoldmen。HethoughthowpleasedtheyhadbeentolearntheLord’sprayer；andhethankedGodforhavingsenthimtoteachandhelpsuchgodlymen。
SotheBishopsat，thinking，andgazingattheseawheretheislandhaddisappeared。Andthemoonlightflickeredbeforehiseyes，sparkling，nowhere，nowthere，uponthewaves。Suddenlyhesawsomethingwhiteandshining，onthebrightpathwhichthemooncastacrossthesea。Wasitaseagull，orthelittlegleamingsailofsomesmallboat？TheBishopfixedhiseyesonit，wondering。
’Itmustbeaboatsailingafterus，’thoughthe’butitisovertakingusveryrapidly。Itwasfar，farawayaminuteago，butnowitismuchnearer。Itcannotbeaboat，forIcanseenosail；butwhateveritmaybe，itisfollowingus，andcatchingusup。’
Andhecouldnotmakeoutwhatitwas。Notaboat，norabird，norafish！Itwastoolargeforaman，andbesidesamancouldnotbeoutthereinthemidstofthesea。TheBishoprose，andsaidtothehelmsman: