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Roger Malvin's Burial
Hisstepswereimperceptiblyledalmostinacircle;nordidheobservethathewasonthevergeofatractoflandheavilytimbered,butnotwithpine-trees.Theplaceofthelatterwasheresuppliedbyoaksandotheroftheharderwoods;andaroundtheirrootsclusteredadenseandbushyunder-growth,leaving,however,barrenspacesbetweenthetrees,thickstrewnwithwitheredleaves.Whenevertherustlingofthebranchesorthecreakingofthetrunksmadeasound,asiftheforestwerewakingfromslumber,Reubeninstinctivelyraisedthemusketthatrestedonhisarm,andcastaquick,sharpglanceoneveryside;but,convincedbyapartialobservationthatnoanimalwasnear,hewouldagaingivehimselfuptohisthoughts.Hewasmusingonthestrangeinfluencethathadledhimawayfromhispremeditatedcourse,andsofarintothedepthsofthewilderness.Unabletopenetratetothesecretplaceofhissoulwherehismotiveslayhidden,hebelievedthatasupernaturalvoicehadcalledhimonward,andthatasupernaturalpowerhadobstructedhisretreat.HetrustedthatitwasHeaven’sintenttoaffordhimanopportunityofexpiatinghissin;hehopedthathemightfindthebonessolongunburied;andthat,havinglaidtheearthoverthem,peacewouldthrowitssunlightintothesepulchreofhisheart.Fromthesethoughtshewasarousedbyarustlingintheforestatsomedistancefromthespottowhichhehadwandered.Perceivingthemotionofsomeobjectbehindathickveilofundergrowth,hefired,withtheinstinctofahunterandtheaimofapractisedmarksman.
