And he saw then that for the first time Toyner raised up his head and seemed stirred with a reviving strength.
The preacher paused, hoping to hear some encouraging word in correspondence to the gesture, but none came.
Then he spoke of Moses and of Joshua, for he was following the tale of God's rejection of sinful nations.
Toyner answered now.

His eye was clearer, his hand steadier.

"I have read there's many that say that God could not have told His people to slay whole nations, men, women, and children.

I think it's the shallowest thing that was ever said.

I don't know about His _telling people_ to do it--that may be a poem; but that He gave it to them to do, that He gives it to winds and floods and fires and plagues to do, time and time and again, is as certain as that if there's a God He must have things His way or He isn't God.