The whole town gathered round the spot--a sullen crowd, the women only breaking the silence with their sobs, and te children clinging to their gowns.

The suspected resurrectionist understood what was wanted of him, and, flinging off his jacket, began to reopen the grave.
Presently the spade struck upon wood, and by and by part of the coffin came in view.

That was nothing, for the resurrectionists had a way of breaking the coffin at one end and drawing out the body with tongs.
The digger knew this.

He broke the boards with the spade and revealed an arm.

The people convinced, he dropped the arm savagely, leapt out of the grave and went his way, leaving them to shovel back the earth themselves.