CHAPTER LIII. THE BURIAL.

rgeofthewindsinthepine-treetops,wereallthatmettheear.Eventhewifeofthedeadstoodwithhershawlwrappedtightlyabouther,rockingtoandfro,asifintheextremityofgrief. Anoldmaninthecompany,whohadofficiatedsometimesaspreacheramongthenegroes,begantosingawell-knownhymnverycommonlyusedatnegrofunerals,possiblybecauseitswildandgloomyimageryhassomethingexcitingtotheirquickimaginations.Thewordsroseonthenightair:— "Hark,fromthetombsadolefulsound, Myearsattendthecry Yelivingmen,comeviewtheground Whereyoumustshortlylie." DuringthesingingofthisverseHannibalstoodsilent,withhisarmsgloomilyfolded,hiseyesfixedonthelifelessface.Graduallythesentimentseemedtoinspirehissoulwithakindofserenetriumphheliftedhishead,andjoinedhisdeepbassvoiceinthesingingofthesecondverse:— "Princes,thisclaymustbeyourbed, Inspiteofallyourtowers Thetall,thewise,thereverendhead, Mustlieaslowasours." "Yes,"hesaid,"brethren,thatwillbethewayofit.Theytriumphandlorditoverusnow,buttheirpompwillbebroughtdowntothegrave,andthenoiseoftheirviols.Thewormshallbespreadunderthem,andthewormshallcoverthemandwhenwecometostandtogetheratthejudgmentseat,ourtestimonywillbetookthereifitneverwasaforeandtheLordwilljudgeatweenusandouroppressors,—that'sonecomfort.Now,brethren,let'sjestlayhiminthegrave,andhethat'sabetterman,orwouldhavedonebetterinhisplace,lethimjudgehimifhedares." Theyliftedhimupandlaidhimintothegraveandinafewmomentsallthemortalsignsbywhichthatsoulhadbeenknownonearthhadvanished,toappearnomoretillthegreatdayofjudgmentanddecision.