nearly two o'clock before
`` O God , Who in Thy great mercy hath delivered us from peril , take into Thy keeping the souls of these our enemies , consumed by Thy wrath before our eyes ; give us the power to pity them -- men like ourselves . '' But even while he prayed he could see Noel 's face flame-white in the darkness ; and , as that glow in the sky faded out , he felt once more the thrill of triumph . They went down to tell the maids , and for some time after sat up together , talking over what they had seen , eating biscuits and drinking milk , which they warmed on an etna . It was nearly two o'clock before they went to bed . Pierson fell asleep at once , and never turned till awakened at half-past six by his alarum . He had Holy Communion to administer at eight , and he hurried to get early to his church and see that nothing untoward had happened to it . There it stood in the sunlight ; tall , grey , quiet , unharmed , with bell gently ringing .