s is about deep
enough. That's right--give me the young men first. When the others see
them dipped they'll have no fear."

Elihu Drane took Andy's arm, and another helper laid hold of Jeff.

"Sing--sing brethren and sisters," admonished the preacher. "Make a
joyful noise unto the Lord. This is the time for Hallelujahs. Ef ye don't
sing now, when will ye ever?"

Andy spoke low in the elder's ear, whereupon he was released, and turned
to his brother; hand-in-hand the two stepped into the water alone. Judith
saw the pale, boyish faces, strangely refined by the exaltation of spirit
which was upon them, as the twins waded out toward the preacher. Bohannon
called to Jeff, shook hands with him, shouted, "Praise God, brother.
Glory! Glory! Now--make yo'se'f right stiff. Let me have ye. Don't be
scared. I won't drop ye. I've baptised a many before you was born, son."
His right hand was lifted dripping above the dark head. "I baptise ye,
Thomas Jefferson Turrentine, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Ghost, Amen."

"Amen--Amen!" came the deep chorus from the bank, the high, plaintive
women's voices undertoned by the masculine bass.

The black coat sleeve went around the white-clad shoulders, the preacher
dropped his new convert gently backward into the shining water, dipped
him, and Jeff who was not an excellent swimmer for nothing, came up
quiet, smiling, and stood aside to wait for his brother.

"Sing--sing!" cried the preacher. "Here goes another soul on its way to
glory," and he reached forth to take Andy. A moment later he sent him,
drenched, but washed clean of his sins, so far as mountain belief goes,
after his twin. The hallelujahs burst forth to greet the boys: joyful
shouts, amens, and some sobbing when, hand-in-hand--even as they had gone
in--they came up out of the water.

"Mighty pretty to look at, ain't it?" said a voice at Judith's shoulder.

She turned to find Blatch Turrentine standing behind her.

"I reckon Andy and Jeff is goin' to be regular little prayin' Sammies
from this out," jeered the newcomer.

"Granny Lusk has given her consent for them and the gals to be wedded,"
remarked Judith softly. To her--and perhaps to Cliantha and Pendrilla
also--the main importance of the twins' conversion was in this
permission, which had been withheld so long as they were wild and had a
bad name.

"I heared of another weddin' that might interest ye," Blatch insinuated.
"Want to come and walk a