He had spoken rapidly, and was ill at ease, watching her earnestly all
the while.

As for her, she was dismayed by his words. She had been listening with a
growing terror. Now, she turned away to conceal a tendency to tears. But
this was repressed. With no resentment, but with obvious emotion, she
inquired:

"Can you get across the river?"

"Very likely."

"If you fail, or if anything happens to you, what becomes of me?"

"You would be here alone, and in a very bad plight. For that reason I
think I would better stay until we can start together."

A slight gesture of resignation was her only reply. There was a pause;
uncomfortable for Pats from his consciousness of her low opinion of him.
However, he continued, in a somewhat perfunctory way, turning to the
silent occupant of the bench.

"Now, as we take possession of this place, the least we can do is to
give the owner a decent burial. Fortunately for us a grave is dug and a
coffin ready."

"Yes, _his_ grave and _his_ coffin," and she regarded with a
gentler expression the sitting figure. "And I think I know why he dug
the grave."

"To save somebody else the trouble?"

"To be sure of resting beside his companion."

"Of course! that explains it all. He knew that strangers might bury him
in the easiest place; that they would never chop through all those
roots."

He stepped around behind the body, placed his hands under the arms, and
made an effort to raise it, but the weight was beyond his strength.
Looking toward his companion with an apologetic smile, he said: "I am
sorry to be so useless, but--together we can carry him, if you don't
mind."

At this suggestion Elinor, with a look of horror, took a backward step.

"I beg your pardon," he said, "for suggesting it. I have been doing so
much of this work that I had forgotten how it affected others."

"What work?"

"Burying people. In the Transvaal. One morning, with a squad, I buried
twenty-eight. Nine of them my own friends. So, if I go about this in the
simplest way, do not think it is from want of sympathy."

"I shall understand."

"Then I will bring that wheelbarrow I saw behind the house."

He started off, then stopped as if to say something, but hesitated.

"What is it, Mr. Boyd?"

"I am afraid that coffin is too heavy for me. Would you mind helping
with it?"

"No. And I can help you with the body, too, if necessary." And together
they returned to the cottage.

*