"I can hardly think that," said Charles Holland, "for these fellows are too terrified for their personal safety, to think of the superstitious fears with which a place may be regarded; and these men, in such a place as the one you speak of, they will be at home."
"Well, well, rather than be done, we must fight for it; and when you come to consider we have one pick and two shovels, we shall be in full force."
"Well said, doctor; how far have we to go?"
"Not more than a quarter of a mile."
They pursued their way through the fields, and under the hedge-rows, until they came to a gate, where they stopped awhile, and began to consult and to listen.
"A few yards up here, on the left," said the doctor; "I know the spot; besides, there is a particular mark. Now, then, are you all ready?"
"Yes, all."
"Here," said the doctor, pointing out the marks by which the spot might be recognized; "here is the spot, and I think we shall not be half a foot out of our reckoning."
"Then let us begin instanter," said Henry, as he seized hold of the pickaxe, and began to loosen the earth by means of the sharp end.
"That will do for the present," said Chillingworth; "now let me and Charles take a turn with our shovels, and you will get on again presently. Throw the earth up on the bank in one heap, so that we can put it on again without attracting any attention to the spot by its being left in clods and uneven."
"Exactly," said Henry, "else the body will be discovered."
They began to shovel away, and continued to do so, after it had been picked up, working alternately, until at length Charles stuck his pick-axe into something soft, and upon pulling it up, he found it was the body.
A dreadful odour now arose from the spot, and they were at no loss to tell where the body lay. The pick-axe had stuck into the deceased's ribs and clothing, and thus lifted it out of its place.
"Here it is," said the doctor; "but I needn't tell you that; the charnel-house smell is enough to convince you of the fact of where it is."
"I think so; just show a light upon the subject, doctor, and then we can see what we are about--do you mind, doctor--you have the management of the lantern, you know?"
"Yes, yes," said Chillingworth; "I see you have it--don't be in a hurry, but do things deliberately and coolly whatever you do--you will not be so liable to make mistakes, or to leave anything undone."
"There will be nothing of any use to you here, doctor, in the way of dissection, for the flesh is one mass of decay. What a horrible sight, to be sure!"
"It is; but hasten the search."
"Well, I must; though, to confess the truth, I'd sooner handle anything than this."
"It is not the most pleasant thing in the world, for there is no knowing what may be the result--what creeping thing has made a home of it."
"Don't mention anything about it."
Henry and Charles Holland now began to search the pockets of the clothes of the dead body, in one of which was something hard, that felt like a parcel.
"What have you got there?" said Chillingworth, as he held his lantern up so that the light fell upon the ghastly object that they were handling.
"I think it is the prize," said Charles Holland; "but we have not got it out yet, though I dare say it won't be long first, if this wind will but hold good for about five minutes, and keep the stench down."
They now tore open the packet and pulled out the papers, which appeared to have been secreted upon his person.
"Be sure there are none on any other part of the body," said Chillingworth, "because what you do now, you had better do well, and leave nothing to after thought, because it is frequently impracticable."
"The advice is good," said Henry, who made a second search, but found nothing.
"We had better re-bury him," said the doctor; "it had better be done cleanly. Well, it is a sad hole for a last resting-place, and yet I do not know that it matters--it is all a matter of taste--the fashion of the class, or the particular custom of the country."
There was but little to be said against such an argument, though the custom of the age had caused them to look upon it more as a matter of feeling than in such a philosophical sense as that in which the doctor had put it.
"Well, there he is now--shovel the earth in, Charles," said Henry Bannerworth, as he himself set the example, which was speedily and vigorously followed by Charles Holland, when they were not long before the earth was thrown in and covered up with care, and trodden down so that it should not appear to be moved.