Evidently, they were not all like Ezekiel and the shrill-voiced woman.
Then, from the settee in front of him, rose the lengthy and fishy person with the cowhide boots and enormous hands.

His name was Josiah Badger and he was, according to Trumet's estimate, "a little mite lackin' in his top riggin'." He stuttered, and this infirmity became more and more apparent as he grew eloquent.
"I--I ain't afraid," he proclaimed.

"They can call me a C-C-Come-Outer all they want to.

I--I don't care if they do.

Let 'em, I say; l-let 'em! They can p-p-poke their fun and p-p-p-pup-pup-poke it, but I tell 'em to h-heave ahead and p-pup-pup-POKE.