Perhaps it was the influence of this Communion service which gave us an inspiration. We girls put our heads together and wrote a prayer of seven verses, one for each member of the family. We memorized each verse completely so that we could destroy the written copy in order to keep the prayer to ourselves. We agreed that if we were ever separated, we could communicate with each other by using one or more of the verses as a sort of unwritten code. We were delighted with the idea and worked on its composition, each member contributing. Olga put the prayer together in its final form. Then we memorized it verse by verse. When everyone had mastered the prayer we tore into the tiniest bits the paper on which the prayer was written and disposed of them, a little at a time, every day. Six verses of the prayer follow: Our Father of all men, Giver of our lives, In our saddest, stormy hour of this day, We stand at the Gate of our Lord, Give Thy courage and nourishment to our innocent bodies. Watch over us in the hour of our fate, bathed by our tears. Almighty Father, though men may stain their hands in martyr blood, Fill our hearts with forgiveness, Grant Thy salvation to us--defenseless-- As we pray for the sickness of the souls who have gone astray. O, Father in Heaven, light up the land of Russia. Enlighten her way from darkness to understanding, Stretch Thy Blessed hand over those in need of Thy help. Lighten their sorrows and heal their wounds. Almighty Father, breathe into us Thy power, Thy strength; And when the storm breaks, grant us patience. With prayers on our lips, numb the pain in our bodies; With compassion, close our eyes with Thy blessed hand forever. When we are no more, open Thy doors to the hungry spirits of our souls. Guide them in a prayer to be worthy of Thy Kingdom, And grant that we may receive Thy mercy on the day of judgment. Blessed Father, Thou hast bestowed life upon us with the great power of Thy hand. Grant that, when Thou takest our lives’ spirits to be born free again, We may rest in peace in Thy heaven, O blessèd Father of all men. XXV ACCUSATION Yurovsky was now getting worse than ever, especially when his men were nearby. He chose to ignore the insolence of his men when they caught us washing our glasses after they finished drinking out of them. Dr. Botkin again tried to intercede but, while Yurovsky pretended to be shocked, his attitude did not change. The maid came and whispered that Nagorny had been shot a few days after he was taken away. She thought Sidniev too had been shot.