The captain knitted his heavy brows. "What were you going to meditate about?"
"The goodness of God and the sin of the world," said Amos faintly; and drew forth an amazing reply:
"I don't wonder you got nutty."
"Got what?" repeated Amos, puzzled. "Nutty?"
"You've understood me, Brother." The captain tapped his forehead significantly with his gnarled hand whose deep-laid grime no washing could altogether remove. "Then what?"
Amos described his despair, his contemplation of the dark pool, and his last and most terrible experience.
"I'm utterly vile," said he at last.
"You're worse than that," said the captain.
"Won't you advise me?" asked Amos timidly.
The little man stared at him. He asked again for a second description of Amos's long days, he looked at the mighty frame, and was filled with an impatience which was almost disgust. He rose as though he were going to turn Amos out. Instead he addressed him fiercely.