"Blur-an'-agurs, but it's ruined I am!" cried St. Piran. "An' the Visitashun no further away than to-morra at tin a.m.!" He wrung his hands, then caught up a spade, and began digging like a madman. They searched all day, and with lanterns all the night through: they searched from Ligger Point to Porth Towan: but came on never a sign of the missing church. "If it only had a spire," one said, "there'd be some chance." But as far as could be recollected, the building had a dumpy tower. "Once caught, twice shy," said another; "let us find it this once, an' next time we'll have landmarks to dig it out by." It was at sunrise that St. Piran, worn-out and heart-sick, let fall his spade and spoke from one of the tall mounds, where he had been digging for an hour. "My children," he began, and the men uncovered their heads, "my children, we are going to be disgraced this day, and the best we can do is to pray that we may take it like men. Let us pray." He knelt down on the great sand-hill, and the men and women around dropped on their knees also. And then St. Piran put up the prayer that has made his name famous all the world over. _THE PRAYER OF ST. PIRAN. Harr us, O Lord, and be debonair: for ours is a particular case. We are not like the men of St. Neot or the men of St. Udy, who are for ever importuning Thee upon the least occasion, praying at all hours and every day of the week. Thou knowest it is only with extreme cause that we bring ourselves to trouble Thee. Therefore regard our moderation in time past, and be instant to help us now. Amen_. There was silence for a full minute as he ceased; and then the kneeling parishioners lifted their eyes towards the top of the mound. St. Piran was nowhere to be seen! They stared into each other's faces. For a while not a sound was uttered. Then a woman began to sob-- "We've lost 'en! We've lost 'en!" "Like Enoch, he's been taken!" "Taken up in a chariot an' horses o' fire. Did any see 'en go?" "An' what'll we do without 'en? Holy St. Piran, come back to us!" "Hullo! hush a bit an' hearken!" cried Andrew Penhaligon, lifting a hand. They were silent, and listening as he commanded, heard a muffled voice and a faint, calling as it were from the bowels of the earth. "Fetch a ladder!" it said: "fetch a ladder! It's meself that's found ut, glory be to God! Holy queen av heaven! but me mouth is full av sand, an' it's burstin' I'll be if ye don't fetch a ladder quick!" They brought a ladder and set it against the mound. Three of the men climbed up. At the top they found a big round hole, from the lip of which they scraped the sand away, discovering a patch of shingle roof, through which St. Piran--whose weight had increased of late--had broken and tumbled heels over head into his own church.