CHAPTER LIII. THE BURIAL.
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ateeagernesswithwhicharepressedandstarvedintellectdevoursinsecretitsstolenfood.
Inalittlechinkbetweenthelogsofhisferry-housetherewassecretedaBible,acopyofRobinsonCrusoe,andanoddnumberofanorthernnewspaperwhichhadbeendroppedfromthepocketofapassengerandwhenthedoorwasshutandbarredatnight,andhisbitofpineknotlighted,hewouldtaketheseoutandreadthemhourbyhour.Thereheyearnedafterthewildfreedomofthedesolateisland.Heplacedhiswifeandchildren,inimagination,inthelittlebarricadedabodeofRobinson.Hehuntedandmadecoatsofskin,andgatheredstrangefruitsfromtreeswithunknownnames,andfelthimselfafreeman.
OverasoulsostrongandsorepresseditisnottobewonderedatthatDredshouldhaveacquiredapeculiarpower.ThestudyoftheBiblehadawakenedinhismindthatvaguetumultofaspirationsandhopeswhichiteverexcitesinthehumanbreastandhewasprompttobelievethattheLordwhovisitedIsraelinEgypthadlistenedtothesighingsoftheircaptivity,andsentaprophetandadeliverertohispeople.
Likeatorchcarriedinastormynight,thishopehadblazedupwithinhimbutthecoldblastofdeathhadwhistledby,anditwasextinguishedforever.
Amongthesmallbandthatstoodaroundthedead,ontheedgeofthegrave,hestood,lookingfixedlyonthefaceofthedeparted.InthequaintandshaggymoundtowhichDredhadattachedthatstrange,rugged,orientalappellation,JegarSahadutha,orthe"heapofwitness,"therewaswildlyflaringahugepine-knottorch,whoselightfellwithared,distinctglareontheprostrateformthatlaytherelikeakinglycedaruprooted,nomoretowaveitsbranchesinair,yetmightyinitsfall,withalltheshaggymajestyofitsbranchesaround.Whatever
