“I found out,” he shouted, “that fancy music and—­ah—­and—­ah—­sot sermons and fine duds and suchlike wa’n’t goin’ to do me no good.  I needed somethin’ else.  I needed good times in my religion” ("Hallelujah!”) “and I’ve found ’em right here.  Yes, sir! right here.  And I say this out loud,” turning to glare at the intruder, “and I don’t care who comes to poke fun at me for sayin’ it.” ("Amen!”)

A sharp-nosed female followed Mr. Bassett.  She spoke with evident feeling and in a voice that trembled and shook when her emotion carried it aloft.  She’d had enough of high-toned religion.  Yes, and of them that upheld it.  When her brother Simeon was took bad with phthisic, “wheezin’ like a busted bellerses” and ’twas “up and down, trot, trot, trot,” to fetch and carry for him day in and night out, did the folks from the Reg’lar church help her?  She guessed not.  The only one that came nigh her was Laviny Pepper, and she came only to gas and gabble and find out things that wa’n’t none of her business.  What help she got was from a Come-Outer, from Eben Hammond, bless his good soul! ("Amen!”) That phthisic settled her for Reg’larism.  Yes, and for them that preached it, too.  So there!

Captain Eben called for more testimony.  But the testifiers were, to use the old minstrel joke, backward in coming forward that evening.  At an ordinary meeting, by this time, the shouts and enthusiasm would have been at their height and half a dozen Come-Outers on their feet at once, relating their experiences and proclaiming their happiness.  But tonight there was a damper; the presence of the leader of the opposition cast a shadow over the gathering.  Only the bravest attempted speech.  The others sat silent, showing their resentment and contempt by frowning glances over their shoulders and portentous nods one to the other.

“Come, brethren,” commanded the captain sharply; “we are waitin’ to hear you.  Are you afraid?  If your faith is real, nothin’ nor nobody should keep you from cryin’ it out loud.  Now, if ever, is the accepted time.  Speak up for the spirit that’s in you.”

An elderly man, grave and quiet, arose and said a few words, dignified and solemn words of prayer and thankfulness for the comfort this little society of true believers had been to him.  Ellery realized that here was another sort of Come-Outer, one of the Hammond type.  Evidently, they were not all like Ezekiel and the shrill-voiced woman.

Then, from the settee in front of him, rose the lengthy and fishy person with the cowhide boots and enormous hands.  His name was Josiah Badger and he was, according to Trumet’s estimate, “a little mite lackin’ in his top riggin’.”  He stuttered, and this infirmity became more and more apparent as he grew eloquent.