upwards till only the whites could be seen: he was no longer articulate;
convulsive shudders tore at him, froth dabbled his chin. Suddenly he
fell down inside the pulpit and was lost to view, all except those
fearful hands, that clutched and beat at the rim. Then that too ceased,
and they hung over motionless, like the hands of someone drowned....

The whole chapel was clamorous now with cries and groanings, but a
comparative stillness fell as the preacher's hands gripped the edge of
the pulpit again and he dragged himself erect. The sweat ran down his
white face and splashed like tears on to the Bible before him.

"Who is going to stand forth and be saved?" he yelled: "Who amongst you
is still a prisoner to Satan? Let him come forth and confess the Lard. I
see 'ee over there"--pointing a shaking forefinger--"you'm hesitating.
You can't make up your mind to give up that sin you love. Give it up, or
this night thy soul shall be required of thee, and all the devils in
hell shall play at ball with it in the midst of the flames."

Several men, each convinced that finger had threatened him, rose to
their feet and struggled towards the penitents' pew, the tears streaming
down their drawn faces, their breath rasping as though they had been
running. A young girl sprang up and ripped the ribbon off the straw
bonnet she was wearing; the sharp tearing sound added an alien note to
the babel. Then she too, trembling violently, attained the pew and fell
on her knees, the despoiled bonnet askew on her bowed head. One after
another all those not already converted made their way through the
encouraging throng to the fateful pew.

Annie shook Ishmael by the arm.