"This is very painful," said young Jack.

"It is, Jack," said his comrade, in a broken voice. "I don't like to
see a boy crying."

They were still ignorant of their friend's real sex.

* * * * *

"What is that?"

"What?"

"Don't you hear?"

"I do; it sounds like some heavy instrument beating the earth close at
hand."

"Yes, like digging."

The three started at the word.

No sooner was it uttered than the meaning of it struck them all three,
and sent a chill to their very hearts.

Digging at that fatal hour, so short a time before daybreak, could have
but one significance.

Grave-making; and if the two hapless boys quailed at that awful sound,