Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/211

 praying, it seemed, they said, as if it was hours and hours.

"But at last they heard the slow steps of the father and brothers returning, and they knew by their heavy, solemn tread that their search had been successful; and sobbing but silent, they all hurried out and opened the door to give her a sad welcome to her home once more, though they knew it was but for a few hours; and they said, terrible as it was, they were thankful even for that.

"And then the young men went out again and dug the grave in their own ground; and they, her daughters, with their own trembling, loving hands, hastily made her ready for it. And when all was prepared, they all went out together, and placed her there in silence and darkness; not a word was spoken, but they all knelt and prayed silently—for who could tell who might be listening; they did not even dare to raise up the sods above her, lest their enemies might suspect, and steal the body from them; and so they just smoothed it off, and got back to the house just as day dawned. And the young men have taken turns to watch there