“I’ll attend to that; all you need do is dig.  Over there at the edge of the wood will answer, and we shall have to place all three in one grave—­we can do no more.”

He started on his mission reluctantly enough, glancing constantly backward over his shoulder to insure himself of our presence, and carefully avoiding any approach to the open door.

“Am I to simply remain here?” the girl asked, as I took the first step to follow him.  “Can I not be of some help?”

“I think not; I can get along very nicely.  It is not a pleasant sight inside.  Here is the best place for you, as it might not be safe for you to go any further away.  We do not know positively where those men have gone.  They might be hiding somewhere in the woods.  You can turn away and face the forest, so as to see nothing.  We shall not be long.”

“And—­and,” she faltered, “what will be done after that?”

“I will endeavor to think out some plan.  I confess I do not yet know what will be best.  To remain here is, of course, impossible, while to return down the river means certain capture.  Perhaps you may be able to suggest something.”

Unpleasant as our task was, it proved to be less difficult of accomplishment than I had anticipated.  There were blankets in the cabin bunks, and in these I wrapped the bodies.  They were too heavy, however, for me to transport alone, and it required some threatening to induce Sam to give me the assistance necessary to deposit them in the shallow grave.  Only the fear that I would not have him with us longer compelled his joining me.  He was more frightened at the thought of being left alone than of contact with the dead.  In bearing Pete’s body from where it lay in the woods, we were compelled to pass by near where Rene sat, but she kept her eyes averted, and I experienced no desire to address her with empty words.  Sam filled in the loose earth, rounding it into form, and the two of us stood above the fresh mound, our bent heads bared to the sunlight, while I endeavored to repeat brokenly a few words of prayer.  As I finally turned gladly away, it was to note that the girl had risen to her feet and stood motionless, with face toward us.  Her attitude and expression is still in memory the one dear remembrance of the scene.  My inclination was to join her at once, but I knew that the negro would never enter the cabin alone, and now our first necessity was food.  Of this I found a fair supply, and, compelling him to assist me, we hastily prepared a warm meal over the open fire.  It was eaten without, no one of us desiring to remain in the midst of that scene of death; and the very knowledge that the dreaded burial was completed and that we were now free to depart, brought to all of us a renewed courage.