But as he told of her rescue of Joe and of the sudden calamity that had befallen her a great stillness fell upon the simple, tender-hearted fellows, and they listened with their eyes shining in the firelight with growing intentness.

Then Bill spoke of The Pilot and how he stood by her and helped her and cheered her till they began to swear he was "all right"; "and now," concluded Bill, "when The Pilot is in a hole she wants to help him out." "O' course," said one.

"Right enough.

How's she going to work it ?" said another.
"Well, he's dead set on to buildin' a meetin'-house, and them fellows down at the Creek that does the prayin' and such don't seem to back him up!" "Whar's the kick, Bill ?" "Oh, they don't want to go down into their clothes and put up for it." "How much ?" "Why, he only asked 'em for seven hundred the hull outfit, and would give 'em two years, but they bucked--wouldn't look at it." [Chorus of expletives descriptive of the characters and personal appearance and belongings of the congregation of Swan Creek.] "Were you there, Bill?
What did you do ?" "Oh," said Bill, modestly, "I didn't do much.

Gave 'em a little bluff." "No! How?
What?
Go on, Bill." But Bill remained silent, till under strong pressure, and, as if making a clean breast of everything, he said: "Well, I jest told 'em that if you boys made such a fuss about anythin' like they did about their Gospel outfit, an' I ain't sayin' anythin' agin it, you'd put up seven hundred without turnin' a hair." "You're the stuff, Bill! Good man! You're talkin' now! What did they say to that, eh, Bill ?" "Well," said Bill, slowly, "they CALLED me!" "No! That so?
An' what did you do, Bill ?" "Gave 'em a dead straight bluff!" [Yells of enthusiastic approval.] "Did they take you, Bill ?" "Well, I reckon they did.