Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/217

 over, and these words seemed written in letters of fire on every page: “Stand Forth!”

Whichever way he turned, those words were before his eyes. Had God’s call come to him at last? Did God bid him to stand forth on the morrow, and testify for Him in the market-place? He fell upon his knees and offered up this prayer: “O Lord, help me to save pastor Junius. Permit me, weak and unworthy though I be, to suffer in the place of that noble minister, and forgive my sincere but misguided uncle.”

Hugo rose from his knees with his burden lightened. In some way he felt that his prayer would be answered and that the arm of Omnipotence would enable him to save his friend. How he was to accomplish this he did not know. He believed that God would show him the path of duty so clearly that he would make no mistake. With this thought he laid himself down to rest, and slept the tranquil sleep of a child.