but the moment he first attacked the sandy soil , burying his fingers in it with all the pent-up fury hed been feeling , and seen the ground crumble and sink at his touch as though afraid of him , he had laughed triumphantly and fell upon the task with double the self-confidence and vigour , digging and digging and digging in such a state of wild abandon , that when he next heard raddias alarmed voice he looked around and realized he stood in a pit so deep , her and gallans faces seemed as small as waning moons .