He raved against idolaters of the Kirk and of the Bible, and against all preachers who, by his way of it, had perverted the Word.

As he went on, I began to fancy that Muckle John's true place was with the Mussulmans, for he left not a stick of Christianity behind him.
Such blasphemy on the open hill-side had been shocking enough, but in that narrow room it was too horrid to be borne.

The minister stuck his fingers in his ears, and, advancing to the maniac, bade him be silent before God should blast him.

But what could his thin old voice do against Gib's bellowing?
The mariner went on undisturbed, and gave the old man a blow with his foot which sent him staggering to the floor.
The thing had become too much for my temper.

I cried on the other men to help me, but none stirred, for Gib seemed to cast an unholy spell on ordinary folk.