the iron-like earth. In the pale circle of the lantern
a figure stooped and rose, a figure with an intent,
furrowed countenance.

The digging took a long while, the frozen clods
of earth fell with a scattering thud, the shadow of
the hole deepened by imperceptible degrees. Once
the labor stopped, the sack was lowered into the
ragged grave; but the opening was too shallow, and
the rise and fall of the solitary figure recommenced.

The sack was finally covered from sight, from
the appalling frigidity and space of the sky, from the
frozen surface of the earth wrapped in stillness, in
night. The clods were scraped back into the hole,
stamped into an integral mass; the spade obliterated
all trace of what lay hidden beneath, returned to the
clay from which it had been momentarily animated
by the enigmatic, flitting spark of life.

The lantern retraced its path to the shed, to the
porch; where, in a brief thread of light, in the shutting
of a door, it disappeared.

[[350]]

p349 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p350w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p351

v?