THE BURIAL. 



In a few minutes the fire was removed from the spot 

 where it had been burning for so many days, and the pile 

 of ashes pushed aside. Then with sharp sticks for mat- 

 tocks, and paddles for shovels, in a little while we dug a 

 grave in the sandy soil. Four men took the canoe, cov- 

 ered with the blanket, and guarded by Duke, and 

 carried it up by the grave. The fire waned and flickered 

 and the moon was nearly set. The heavy gaily-colored 

 Indian blanket was wrapped around the dead man, and 

 his hands were folded, " as though praying, dumbly, over 

 his breast." Nothing was said, but the plaintive moans 

 of the negroes and Lem's wailing cry were the only 

 sounds of sorrow. Lou looked on with eyes wide star- 

 ing and followed every motion of the attendants, but 

 no word or gesture escaped her. The'body was theii 

 laid in the grave, and then followed a pause ; so silently we 

 stood, the very air in the trees seemed noisy, and the 

 negroes ceased their lamentations and crowded round 

 Duke, who stood at the head of the grave, looking sadly 

 in, while his long ears touched the ground. We looked 

 one at the other for a sign, and the dead man looked up 

 at us from the grave. Where now is the prayer of the 

 living, and the hope for the hereafter ? 



The Doctor spoke with a voice so low, that but for the 

 silence we could not have heard it : " Dust to dust, ashes 

 to ashes." Then, as if seeking words to continue the 

 service he .could not remember, he broke forth in that 

 great confession: "I believe in one God, the Father 

 Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, in JESUS CHKIST, 



