Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/265

Rh “That’s a logical conclusion,” said Mr. Weston.

“Well, I only spoke of it because I was surprised to think that we can see so far. It must be twenty-five miles away.”

“This seems a strange place for a burying-ground, up on the top of a stony hill,” said Julia.

“Well, it is here because it used to be the churchyard, and the first church was put here because the early settlers  wanted to feel sure that when they were in church they  would n’t be unexpectedly scalped. I did get this from my guide-book,” he added, as he turned to Julia. “They used to have sentinels stationed outside who kept a sharp  look-out for Indians or other enemies. Nothing could escape them at this height. They could see all that was happening on sea or land for some miles away.”

“Now for the gravestones!” cried Brenda. “I wonder if we ’ll find anything really queer.”

You may say that this was not just the right spirit in which to approach a burying-ground, but Julia could not  help exclaiming when she found one that read:—

“What!” exclaimed Brenda, running over to read the stone for herself. “Well, it really is,” she added, as she looked at the inscription.

“Oh, you have n’t read the whole of it. You are