He was helpless.

The Captain would only say "Come," and go he must, leave his warm house and his parents whom he loved and Mary and Helen and Hamlet, yes, and even Miss Jones.

He would be dragged down the long white road, through the lighted village, out on to the shiny beach, in a boat out to the dark ship--and then he would be alone with the Captain, alone in the dark ship, with the Captain's heavy hand upon his shoulder, his mouth smiling, his great legs drawing him in as a spider draws a fly into its web, and everyone asleep, only the stars and the dark water.

He tried to say the Lord's Prayer again, but the words would not come.

The sweat began to trickle down his nose...
Then he heard in the next room some movement against a piece of furniture and a voice muttering.