The next Saturday afternoon was the regular time for the covenant-meeting, and also, according to custom, for hearing the experiences of any who wished to unite with the church by baptism. Ansel, Peter, and Mr. Hume came, along with others, to present themselves to the church. In regard to Mr. Hume there had been much speculation among his former comrades as to what course he would take. Some said: "Mr. Hume will never wet the sole of his foot in that river. Don't you remember how he used to laugh at the idea of being plunged in the river in honor of a dead man? He may talk in meeting, but it is a very different thing to go down into the river with the whole hillside covered with people." Others said: "We can't tell what has come over him, but he will not go back now. He has gone too far to retreat." Some even ventured to approach Mr. Hume himself with their raillery: "What do you think now of being dipped in the river in honor of a dead man?" "I think that I would be willing to be baptized a thousand times if I could recall by that means what I have spoken against baptism." "And what, Mr. Hume, about the ice water?" "You know and I know," he answered, "that we always respected those who did not shrink from cold water for Christ's sake. What effeminacy, what more than effeminacy, for a resolute man to hesitate and tremble at baptism! We should be ashamed of such weakness in any worldly matter. I have given you occasion for all your raillery, but as I once was a leader in evil, so I wish that I might lead you to better things." Ansel, Peter, and the rest gave an account of their religious experiences, and last of all Mr. Hume. "What leads you," asked Mr. Wilton, "to present yourself to the church, asking for baptism?" "I think that the love of Christ leads me. I have done a great deal against Christ, and now I wish, if possible, to do something to show my love for him. I come to obey the word and example of Christ by being buried with him in baptism." They were received for baptism, and the time of administration fixed at half-past twelve o'clock the next day.