liable to need."

"Yes, Yes, I'm sure he's smart in business. But is he--is he a GOOD
man?"

The captain hesitated before replying.

"Git dap!" he ordered, addressing the horse. "Good? Is Sol good? Well,
I cal'late that depends some on what dictionary you hunt up the word
in. He's pious, sartin. There ain't many that report on deck at the
meetin'-house more reg'lar than he does. He don't cal'late to miss a
prayer-meetin' and when there's a revival goin' on he's right up front
with the mourners. Folks do say that his favorite hymn is 'I'm Glad
Salvation's Free' and they heave out consider'ble many hints that if
'twa'n't free he wouldn't have got it; but then, that's an old joke and
I've heard 'em say the same thing about other people."

"But do you think he's honest?"

"I never heard of his doin' anything against the law. He'll skin honesty
as close as he can, there ain't much hide left when he gets through; but
I cal'late he thinks he's honest. And maybe he is--maybe he is. It all
depends on the definition, same as I said. Sol's pious all right. I
cal'late he'd sue anybody that had a doubt as to how many days Josiah
went cabin passenger aboard the whale. His notion of Heaven may be a
little mite hazy, although he'd probably lay consider'ble stress on
the golden streets, but he's sot and definite about t'other place.
Yes, siree!" he added, reflectively, "Sol is sartin there's a mighty
uncomf'table Tophet, and that folks who don't believe just as he does
are bound there. And he don't mean to go himself, if 'tendin' up to
meetin' 'll keep him clear.

"It's kind of queer to me," he went on, slowly, "to see the number
of folks that make up their minds to be good--or what they call
good--because they're scared to be bad. Doin' right because right IS
right, and lettin' the Almighty credit 'em with that, because He's
generally supposed to know it's right full well as they do--that ain't
enough for their kind. They have to keep hollerin' out loud how good
they are so He'll hear and won't make any mistake in bookin' their own
particular passage. Sort of takin' out a religious insurance policy, you
might say 'twas. . . . Humph!" he added, coming out of his reverie and
looking doubtfully at his companion, "I--I hope I ain't shocked you,
ma'am. I don't mean to be irreverent, you understand. I've thought
consider'ble about such things and I have funny ideas maybe."

Thankful declared that she was not shocked. She had heard b