The minister tiptoed to a dark corner and took his stand in front of a vacant settee.
The man whom Ellery had decided must be Captain Eben Hammond was standing on the low platform beside the table.

A quaint figure, patriarchal with its flowing white hair and beard, puritanical with its set, smooth-shaven lips and tufted brows.

Captain Eben held an open hymn book back in one hand and beat time with the other.

He wore brass-bowed spectacles well down toward the tip of his nose.

Swinging a heavy, stubby finger and singing in a high, quavering voice of no particular register, he led off the third verse: "Oh, who shall weep when the roll is called And who shall shout for joy ?" The melodeon and the hymn book were in accord as to the tune, but Captain Eben and the various members of the congregation seemed to have a desire to improvise.