The reading of this letter was followed by a thoughtful silence broken only by the sound of George's pickax and the bursting roots.
“This is a very extraordinary letter. Mr. Levi knows more than he tells you, George.”
“I am of your opinion.”
“Why, captain,” said Jem, “to go by that letter, Fielding is the marked man, and not you after all. So it is his own enemy he is digging that grave for.”
“Do you think you will stop him by saying that?” asked Robinson, with a shrug.
“He was my enemy, Tom, and yours too; but now he is nobody's enemy; he is dead. Will you help me lay him in the earth, or shall I do it by myself?”
“We will help,” said the others, a little sullenly.
They brought the body to its grave under the tall gum-tree.
“Not quite so rough, Tom, if you please.”
“I didn't mean to be rough that I know of—there.”