I must certainly wait till broad day before I could hope to attract by my shouts any stray person who might pass through the cemetery.

Meanwhile, a fantastic idea suggested itself.

I would go and look at my own coffin! Why not?
It would be a novel experience.

The sense of fear had entirely deserted me; the possession of that box of matches was sufficient to endow me with absolute hardihood.

I picked up the church-candle and lighted it; it gave at first a feeble flicker, but afterward burned with a clear and steady flame.