Dutchy, whose eyes and mouth no longer shone, snatched up my lantern, stooped over me, and took my brass box of matches and struck a light, then seizing the spade, he set to work, and very soon had the huge coffin out of the sand. But the strange thing about it was, that it was the very one I had come to rob, only now there were no bones in it, and it dawned upon my stupid brain that Dutchy and the skelington was one! Where he got his flesh and shirt from goodness only knows. The young woman, who was very pretty and had long hair down her back, which blew out like a ship’s pennant in the gale, helped the giant by holding the lantern, while he did the work. The big coffin being placed above ground, away they went round to the other side of the church, where Dutchy set to work digging again, and after a little while cleared the second coffin, which I reckon belonged to the girl. While this was going on I had raised myself on to my marrer-bones, and with my fingers hooked over the old church wall was taking a view of all their doings, and no doubt I was all eyes and mouth if any one could have seen me. Presently the giant up-ended the big coffin and got it on his shoulder, and as he and the girl came round by the tower, she stopped and actually asked for another kiss. Such a request took my breath away, and to avoid the awful dullor[16] which I expected would follow, put my fingers into my ears, but, would you believe me, it was as human a kiss as ever you saw, and not even a whiff of smoke appeared, let alone a tongue of flame, when their lips met. He also carried the little coffin down to the water’s edge, and then up he came, and dragged the big one down by the side of it, and there they lay, for all the world like two boats. Then back they came right to where I was, a-cowering by the flint wall, and says Dutchy-- “Tank you werry much for der lantern and der spade,” and he held out his great hand as he added, “Farewell.” I was very loath, but I took it, and as true as I am alive, it felt damp and cold like the hand of a dead man, and sent a thrill along my backbone I shall never forget. Then the young woman came forward and thanked me, and put forth _her_ hand for me to shake, and I shook something very like a fish, but did not shudder quite so much, as I was a bit more used to it after the first shock, so to speak. After that they walked down to their coffins and each got into the right one, and as I did not follow too close, Dutchy turned round and beckoned me to him, and with fear and trembling I obeyed, and tottered down to the water’s edge. “Now, mynheer,” said he, “when you see der change kom, push der boads off.” I had no idea what he meant, but I shuddered out a kind of “Yes,” and there they sat, till presently he cried out-- “Now den, push avay!” As he spoke, I floated them off, and they appeared to melt partly away, and to change colour from the pinky tinge of life to the grey of death.